Chestnut Dioon

Chestnut Dioon is a cycad native to eastern Mexico, growing on rocky limestone slopes and in forests along the Gulf coast states from Tamaulipas south to Veracruz. It is a slow growing, palm like plant with a thick, mostly underground or short above ground stem topped by a rosette of stiff, pinnate, blue green to dark green leaves, and like all cycads it is not a true palm or fern despite superficially resembling both. The species produces large cones, with male and female cones borne on separate plants, and its starchy seeds have historically been processed and eaten by local communities in Mexico after careful preparation to remove natural toxins, giving rise to its common name. Chestnut Dioon is widely cultivated as an ornamental cycad in warm climates worldwide and is considered one of the more cold hardy species in its genus.