Dioon edule

Chestnut dioon

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Zamiaceae
Genus: Dioon
Species:
D. edule
Binomial name
Dioon edule
Synonyms
  • Dioon aculeatum
  • Dioon imbricatum
  • Dioon strobilaceum
  • Dioon strobilosum
  • Macrozamia littoralis
  • Macrozamia pectinata
  • Platyzamia rigida
  • Zamia maeleni

Dioon edule, the chestnut dioon, is a cycad native to Mexico, also known as palma de la virgen. Cycads are among the oldest seed plants and even pre-date the dinosaurs. It belongs to the Zamiaceae plant family within the order Cycadales. The genus name "Dioon" means "two-egged", referring to the two ovules (see photo below).

Two subspecies are known, the nominate subspecies growing in a moister environment than the other:

  • Dioon edule subsp. angustifolium
  • Dioon edule subsp. edule
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