<p>Płonka sums are a powerful technique for the representation of algebras in regular varieties. However, certain representations of algebras in irregular varieties—like Polin’s variety or the variety of pseudocomplemented semilattices—bear striking similarities to Płonka sums, although they differ from them in some important respects. We aim at finding a convenient umbrella under which these constructions, as well as other ones of a similar kind, can be subsumed. Inspired by Grätzer and Sichler’s work on <i>Agassiz sums</i>, we appropriately enrich the structure of semilattice direct systems and we modify the attendant definition of a sum, while still encompassing Płonka sums as a special case. We prove that the above-mentioned representations of Polin algebras and pseudocomplemented semilattices can be recast in terms of this new framework. Finally, we investigate the problem as to which identities are preserved by the construction.</p>