> Leaves were a major invention millions of years ago (not that long ago really). They are a big step up from needles Leaves were indeed a major event in the t

> Leaves were a major invention millions of years ago (not that long ago really). They are a big step up from needles Leaves were indeed a major event in the the evolutionary history of plants, BUT, leaves are actually older than needles. Many primitive gymnosperms had leaves, as did primitive ferns. Needles are basically leaves that have rolled in on themselves. Conifers are dominant over very large areas, they have not been pushed out of almost every niche in the world. They are the dominant group of plants in northern and southern boreal forests and cover a significant portion of the earth's surface.