Background: Quillaja saponaria Mol., Cryptocarya alba Mol. Looser, and Lithraea caustica Molina Hook et Arn., are common sclerophyllous species in Mediterranean Central Chile. Mesophyll conductance, g(m), may strongly limit photosynthesis in these semiarid environments. Results: Simultaneous measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were carried out in 45 nursery plants from these species to determine diffusional and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis. Values of stomatal conductance, g(s), were greater than those of mesophyll conductance, gm, while their ratio (g(m)/g(s)) was not influenced by species being on average 0.47. Relative limitations posed by mesophyll conductance to photosynthesis, L-m, (0.40 +/- 0.02) were high compared to those imposed by stomata, L-s (0.07 +/- 0.01). The average CO2 concentration in the intercellular air spaces (C-i) was 32 mu mol mol(-1) lower than in the atmosphere (C-a), while the average CO2 concentration in the chloroplasts (C-c) was 131 mu mol mol(-1) lower than C-i independent of species. Maximal rates of Rubisco carboxylation, V-cmax, and maximal electron transport rates driving regeneration of RuBP, J(max), ranged from 13 to 66 mu mol CO2 m(-2) s(-1) and from 33 to 148 mu mol electrons m(-2) s(-1), respectively, and compare well to averages for C-3 plants. Conclusions: Photosynthetic performance was in the series: Q. saponaria > C. alba >= L. caustica, which can be attributed first to mesophyll conductance limitations, probably mediated by leaf anatomical traits and then to species specific foliage N partitioning strategies.