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
Dioon edule is easily ...