Phragmites is represented by two taxa on the S. Aegean island of Crete
(Greece), one of which corresponds to the cosmopolitan common reed, P
. australis. The other deviates in several features and is here descri
bed and named as a new species, P. frutescens H. Scholz; it has been s
tudied in the wild and was found to have a peculiar, frutescent branch
ed habit, to produce inflorescences only occasionally, and never ferti
le flowers; reproduction appears to take place only vegetatively, by s
tolons and by leafy propagules replacing the flowers. The Cretan reed
has been taxonomically equated by some authors with a doubtful Linnean
species, Cenchrus frutescens, and the latter name has been recently p
roposed for rejection so as to prevent displacement of P. australis by
the older supposed synonym. Although one of the original elements of
C. frutescens arguably belongs to P. frutescens, it is an old illustra
tion that cannot be interpreted with ultimate certainty; furthermore i
t is in major conflict with the remainder of the protologue. Choice of
the epithet frutescens for the new species eliminates future uncertai
nty and makes the proposal to reject C. frutescens unnecessary. Those
who (like one of the authors) are unconvinced of the specific distinct
ness of the Cretan reed are free to treat it at an appropriate infrasp
ecific level under P. australis.