The Quiet Domination of the Cat’s Tail in the Canary Islands Over Eight Decades

Resilient is arguably the most fitting term to characterise the Cenchrus setaceus plant, commonly referred to as cat’s tail. This perennial herbaceous species displays an inherent ability to proliferate and has been quietly yet swiftly taking over the ecosystems of the Canary Islands for the past eighty years. Nowadays, it is nearly unthinkable to envision a green space devoid of its distinctive white pompom-like flowers. The cat’s tail has already become an issue across all seven islands, and on three of them (Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria), it poses a significant threat to the islands’ biodiversity.