Dioon edule
| Chestnut dioon | |
|---|---|
| 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 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