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Abstract
Cenchrus setaceus (Forssk.) Morrone has been included in the list of invasive alien species of Union Concern (the EU list) since 2017. This means that the species can no longer be imported, cultivated, transported, commercialized, planted, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union. Despite this, the species was recently found in the wild in Crete. The species was observed in 2024 along the route between the cities of Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos, i.e. over a distance of more than 60 kilometers. Research into the presence of the species in Crete revealed that it was also known to occur on the western side of the island (Chania area) from 2020 onwards. Given the relative extent of the species’ local distribution area, it appears that the species is either a recent, very rapidly expanding weed, or that it has been overlooked for several years. It is especially alarming that the species is currently still being planted in new green areas, both public and private, and is therefore apparently still available for sale in the local horticultural trade, despite EU regulations. Details of these first records, including a distribution map and new illustrations, are presented.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Filip Verloove
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