Evaporation from heterogeneous and sparse canopies is often represented by multi-source models that take the form of electrical analogues based upon resistance networks. The chosen representation de facto imposes a specific form on the composition of elementary fluxes and resistances. The two- and three-source representations are discussed in relation to previous work where some ambiguities arise. Using the two-layer model (Shuttleworth and Wallace, Q J R Meteorol Soc 111:839-855, 1985) and the clumped (three-source) model (Brenner and Incoll, Agric For Meteorol 84:187-205, 1997) as a basis, it is shown that the stomatal characteristics of the foliage (amphistomatous or hypostomatous) generate different formulations. New generic and more concise equations, valid in both configurations, are derived. The differences between the patch and layer approaches are outlined and the consequences they have on the composition and formulation of component fluxes are specified. Then, the issue of calculating the effective resistances of the single-layer model from multi-source representations is addressed. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to illustrate the significance of the new formulations.