get the lowest level term assigned to a post from a hierarchical taxonomy

lowest terms

<?php
//Find the lowest term on the totem pole
$parents = array();
$regions = get_the_terms( get_the_ID(), 'regions' );

foreach( $regions as $region ) {
	$parents[] = $region->parent;
}

foreach( $regions as $region ) {
	// if the current term isn't another's parent, it has to be the lowest right?
	if( !in_array( $region->term_id, $parents ) ) {
		$location = $region->name;
	}
}