Foliar water uptake (FWU) has been reported for different species across several ecosystems types. However, little attention has been given to arid ecosystems, where FWU during dew formation or small rain events could ameliorate water deficits. FWU and their effects on leaf water potential (Ψ_Leaf) were evaluated in grasses and shrubs exploring different soil water sources in a Patagonian steppe. Also, seasonal variability in FWU and the role of cell wall elasticity in determining the effects on Ψ_Leaf were assessed. Eleven small rain events (< 8 mm) and 45 days with dew formation were recorded during the study period. All species exhibited FWU after experimental wetting. There was a large variability in FWU across species, from 0.04 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in species with deep roots to 0.75 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in species with shallow roots. Species-specific mean FWU rates were positively correlated with mean transpiration rates. The increase in Ψ_Leaf after leaf wetting varied between 0.65 MPa and 1.67 MPa across species and seasons. The effects of FWU on Ψ_Leaf were inversely correlated with cell wall elasticity. FWU integrated over both seasons varied between 28 mol m⁻² in species with deep roots to 361 mol m⁻² in species with shallow roots. Taking into account the percentage of coverage of each species, accumulated FWU represented 1.6% of the total annual transpiration of grasses and shrubs in this ecosystem. Despite this low FWU integrated over time compared to transpiration, wetting leaves surfaces can help to avoid larger water deficit during the dry season.

据报道，几种生态系统类型中不同物种的叶片吸水量（FWU）。但是，很少有人关注干旱的生态系统，在干旱的生态系统中，露水形成或小雨事件可能会减轻水资源短缺。FWU及其对叶水势（Ψ影响_叶）的草和灌木探索在巴塔哥尼亚草原不同土壤水分的来源进行了评价。此外，还评估了FWU的季节性变化以及细胞壁弹性在确定对_叶的影响中的作用。在研究期间记录了11次小雨事件（<8毫米）和45天的结露现象。实验润湿后所有物种均显示FWU。从0.04 mmol m ^-2 s ^-1开始，整个物种的FWU差异很大。在具有深根的物种中至0.75mmol m ^-2  s ^-1在具有浅根的物种中。特定于物种的平均FWU率与平均蒸腾率正相关。在不同的物种和季节中，叶浸润后Ψ_叶片的增加在0.65 MPa和1.67 MPa之间变化。FWU对Ψ_叶片的作用与细胞壁弹性成反比。两个季节整合的FWU在具有深根的物种中为28 mol m ^-2至361 mol m ^{-2之间变化}在具有浅根的物种中。考虑到每个物种的覆盖率，累积的FWU占该生态系统中草丛的年蒸腾总量的1.6％。尽管与蒸腾作用相比，FWU随时间推移降低了，但湿润的叶子表面仍可以帮助避免干旱季节的更大水分亏缺。