A numerical taxonomy of the pan species of Crinum based on morphological characters

Fourteen characters of 64 specimens from five taxa; Crinum rautanenianum Schinz, C. paludosum Verdoorn, C. carolo-schmidtii Dinter and C. lugardiae N. E. Brown, previously described within the complex and the more widespread C. macowanii Baker, were subjected to multivariate and univariate statistical analyses in order to circumscribe morphological species as objectively as possible. Results of the clustering and ordination analyses confirm the existence of five distinct phenetic species in the group. The most useful characters that provide taxonomic clarity are identified whilst previously used diagnostic features are discussed. A new key to the species based on examined specimens is provided. Distribution maps of members of this species complex are also presented.