Invasive species can handle higher leaf temperature under water stress than Mediterranean natives

▶ SLA did not differed between invasive and native species. ▶ When drought was imposed, invasive species had higher photosynthetic (PSII) thermal tolerance than natives, and SLA was not related to PSII thermal tolerance. ▶ PSII thermal tolerance was associated to invasiveness, as indicated by their positive relationship with mean potential evapotranspiration of the month with the lowest precipitation. ▶ Fabaceae family had the higher levels of PSII thermal tolerance.