Dioon spinulosum

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Figure 1. A young plant of D. spinulosum

Common Names:

Giant Dioon,
Gum Palm

Distribution & Habitat:

It is found in rocky, limestone evergreen forests in the Mexican states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Yucatan at up to 450 metres (1500 feet) above sea level.

Description:

The largest of the American cycads, up to 16m (50ft) tall, and 40cm (18in) in diameter. Numerous 1.5-2.0m (4.5-6ft) long, light green, stiff leaves, with a flat cross-section. The female cone is the largest cone of any gymnosperm, (both living and extinct) and can be up to 55cm long, weigh up to 13kg, and contain up to 300 seeds.

Culture:

An attractive, easily grown and popular plant for the sub-tropics. Prefers full sun/light shade, and a neutral to alkaline well drained soil. The most commonly grown Dioon by a significant margin.

Kew Gardens

These 2 plants were donated to Kew Gardens in 1888.

Santa Monica, California

These plants are of an unknown age.

Figure 2. D. spinulosum leaf detail.

Figure 3. Looking into a D. spinulosum.

Figure 4. D. spinulosum male

Figure 5. D. spinulosum female

Figure 6. D. spinulosum female cone

Figure 7. D. spinulosum

Figure 8. D. spinulosum

Figure 9. D. spinulosum

Contributed by:

Mike Gray (Figure 1)
Ian Edwards (Figure 2).
Jill Hall (Figure 3).
Colin Wilson (Figure 4,5,6) Dutch Vandervort (Figures 7,8,9).

External Links:

Cycad Pages, IUCN, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr,