First report of Cenchrus setaceus in Crete (Greece)
Cenchrus setaceus (Poaceae: EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) has a native range in North and East Africa and western Asia. It is also included in the EU Regulation 1143/2014 as an invasive species of Union Concern. C. setaceus can have a negative impact on native biodiversity and ecosystem services by outcompeting native species and changing the structure and successional processes of grasslands. During field work conducted on the island of Crete (Greece) in 2024, 18 separate locations of C. setaceus were recorded. The records ranged from one or two specimens to at least 12 individuals, growing along roadsides, near urban settlements and ruderal habitats. In addition, the species is distributed in small populations between the cites of Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos, some 60 km apart. Most of the populations in Crete are close to the coast and near human settlements and tourist infrastructure. The spread of C. setaceus in Crete can be attributed to its wind-borne seeds. The author considers that there is therefore a high probability that the species in more widespread in Crete.
Sources
Verloove F (2025) First records of the invasive weed of Union Concern Cenchrus setaceus (Poaceae) in Crete (Greece). Acta Botanica Croatica, DOI: 10.37427/botcro-2026-002.