“…As deliquescent particles undergo equilibrium transformation to a thin film of saturated solution (Pilinis et al, 1989), the liquid can be seen to undergo ‘salt creep’ (Ivanova and Esenbaey, 2021; Qazi et al, 2019), overcoming the surface tension of hydrophobic leaf surfaces (Kunz, 2010; Pegram and Record, 2007; Roth-Nebelsick, 2007) and entering stomatal pores (Arsic et al, 2020; Burkhardt and Hunsche, 2013; Burkhardt et al, 2012; Burkhardt & Pariyar, 2014 (with videos); Eichert et al, 2008; Park et al, 2023). Diffusion of materials into the stomatal pore along this liquid pathway has been directly observed (Basi et al, 2014; Eichert et al, 1998; Kaiser, 2014).…”