What advantage would compound leaves have over simple leaves?

Question

What advantage would compound leaves have over simple leaves?

Answer 1

Plants with compound leaves have a slight advantage over plants with simple leaves because they often have longer petioles, the green stalky part that connects the leaf to the stem. This allows the plant to place the leaf in more direct sunlight, and the greater the surface area of leaf exposed to sunlight, the better the plant is able to produce food/energy.

In plants that grow in shaded areas, it is advantageous for the plant to have lengthened petioles near the bottom of the plant and shorter ones near the top as to create less shade over the rest of the plant.