The aerial portion of land plants is generally covered by a cuticular layer consisting of a polymer of cutin that embeds waxy hydrophobic fatty acid derivatives. Not only does the cuticle provide a barrier to pathogen attack, but the lipophilic nature of the layer prevents the loss of water and other small molecules from the underlying plant epidermis. The role of the cuticle in plant susceptibility to modern pollutants is also a focus of current research. On page 721, Sieber et al. explore the effects of cuticular deficiency in Arabidopsis by creating transgenic plants that express a fungal cutinase that hydrolyzes the cutin matrix. One of the spectacular results of the active transgene, as is visible in the inflorescence shown on the cover, is the fusion of plant organs, which underscores the importance of the cuticle in defining organ integrity. Indeed, the regulation of interactions between distinct epidermal constituencies is currently emerging as a prime function of plant cuticle.