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Cuticle The cuticle of a plant is the extremely resistent layer protecting the plant against desiccation, infections and UV-radiation. This layer could fossilize in favourable circumstances because of its resistance. At some finding places the plant fossils still possess the cuticle and this is very important for scientific research. By treating pieces of the plant fossil with certain chemical agents it is possible to dissolve the coal and to isolate the cuticle in transparant state. This can be mounted at a slide for microscopic research. The stomas are then also visible and these provide information about the possible relationships with other species.