The influence of benz-annelation of end-groups on the long-wavelength absorption maximum of polymethine dyes is studied using the effective length as a topological parameter. Both alternant and non-alternant hydrocarbon end-groups are considered. In each case the dependence of the effective length upon the number of annelating benzene rings is determined for various possible types of annelation and some extreme annelation effects are demonstrated. The results predicted by means of the theory are shown to be in agreement with the experimental data.