Prosopis pallida (algarrobo) is a highly adapted species to extremely dry and wet conditions. Its geographic distribution at both sides of the Pacific Ocean is associated with its plastic response to El Niño event, an extreme climate event that changes precipitation regimes. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge of this versatile species based on scientific literature. Our analysis conducted identify three main research topics: geographical distribution, ecophysiology and population plasticity, and ecosystem services provision to guide the review in a methodological and unbiased way. In the geographical distribution section, we describe the origin, history, and native distribution of algarrobo, as well as the current distribution and the degree of invasiveness in some countries. In the ecophysiology and population plasticity section, we focus on the mechanisms used by algarrobo to avoid water stress during drought and maximize plant growth during El Niño. We discuss how this is reflected in the most important leaf functional traits, such as leaf mass per area (LMA) or gas exchange-related traits. We analyse the importance of phenotypic plasticity and intraspecific variability as adaptive ways to resist extreme rainfall and prolonged droughts on P. pallida growth during the last 50 years. Finally, we summarized the main ecosystem services and ecological benefits provided by P. pallida as well as its potential industrial uses. With this review, we wish to consolidate the current scientific knowledge of this species, to point out gaps of knowledge and suggest future research directions. As the world becomes a warmer place, P. pallida can be a key species to understand plant resilience to extreme events in dryland ecosystems.

苍蝇(algarrobo) 是一种高度适应极端干燥和潮湿条件的物种。它在太平洋两岸的地理分布与其对厄尔尼诺事件的塑性响应有关，厄尔尼诺事件是一种改变降水状况的极端气候事件。在这篇综述中，我们根据科学文献总结了这种多功能物种的当前知识。我们进行的分析确定了三个主要研究主题：地理分布、生态生理学和人口可塑性，以及生态系统服务提供，以方法论和公正的方式指导审查。在地理分布部分，我们描述了海藻的起源、历史和本土分布，以及目前在一些国家的分布和入侵程度。在生态生理学和种群可塑性部分，我们专注于 algarrobo 在干旱期间避免缺水并在厄尔尼诺期间最大限度地促进植物生长的机制。我们讨论这如何反映在最重要的叶片功能性状中，例如单位面积叶片质量 (LMA) 或与气体交换相关的性状。我们分析了表型可塑性和种内变异作为抵御极端降雨和长期干旱的适应性方法的重要性P. pallida在过去 50 年中的生长。最后，我们总结了P. pallida提供的主要生态系统服务和生态效益及其潜在的工业用途。通过这次审查，我们希望巩固该物种当前的科学知识，指出知识差距并提出未来的研究方向。随着世界变得更加温暖，P. pallida可以成为了解植物对旱地生态系统极端事件恢复能力的关键物种。