Influence of tree height and age on leaf drip-tip morphology in lowland tropical rain forest trees

This dataset comprises leaf morphological measurements from 23 focal tree species within the Yasuní Forest Dynamics Plot in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador. It includes data from both saplings and adult trees, sampled in 2022 and compared with herbarium specimens collected during the plot’s establishment (1995–1997). Each entry documents species identity, life-history strategy, developmental stage, and detailed leaf traits, including lamina dimensions, drip-tip presence and length, and drip-tip ratios. The dataset is structured across two components: (1) leaf-level measurements for over 1,400 samples, and (2) individual-level comparisons of leaf apex morphology over time. Data quality annotations (e.g., herbivory, apex damage) are included. This resource supports trait-based ecological analyses, ontogenetic studies, and long-term morphological change assessments in tropical forest trees. Reuse potential includes comparative morphology and climate adaptation research.