Most aerial organs of vascular plants are covered by a waxy cuticle that limits water loss. Here the authors show that the asymmetric architecture of the cuticle creates a polarity gradient to ensure directional movement of water through olive and ivy leaf cuticles and construct bioinspired artificial membranes that mimic cuticle behaviour.
- Aristotelis Kamtsikakis
- Johanna Baales
- Christoph Weder