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Phosphate uptake was measured for Artemisia tridentata, Agropyron desertorum and Pseudoroegneria spicata, three common perennial North American Great Basin species. Four patterns of nutrient-rich microsites were used in the experiments (different distances, densities and nutrient concentrations). All species were more efficient at taking up P from microsites nearest the plants than from more distant microsites. Artemisia and Agropyron acquired P more rapidly from the distant microsites when there was a larger number of microsites and, therefore, a greater probability of encounter. Uptake from the nearest microsites did not increase after 26 days, while uptake from distant microsites increased and was equal to uptake from the nearest microsites by the end of the experiment. Phosphate uptake was four to five times higher for Artemisia than for Agropyron on a shoot mass basis and seven to eight times greater than for Pseudoroegneria, which reflects species relative growth rates. Differences in shoot dry mass were significant among species, but little evidence was found for interspecific competition. Root density, root dry mass and P uptake in the upper part of the soil mixture was higher for Artemisia than the other species. Phosphate acquisition seems to be influenced by the distance of microsites and their density and the ability of plants to encounter and proliferate absorbing organs in the microsites.