Parallel tapered lams are the same thickness from one end to the other. Tapered lams are thicker at one end than the other with a smooth taper. Those tapered lams can be laid either with the thick ends butted together at the handle or the thinner end butted at the handle, depending on the engineering of the limb and where and how much the limbs will bend. I have a Mike Treadway FG longbow with reverse tapered lams in the limbs.