Previous plant

Dioon purpusii

Next plant

Author: Joseph Nelson Rose, 1909
Family:  ZAMIACEAE
Origin:  C + SW Mexico
Soil:  Rich Organic
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Medium - Maximum
Thickness:  40 Centimetres
Height:  5 Metres
Flower:  Cones; Pale Brown Female, Greenish Brown Male.
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Purpus' Cycad
Synonyms:  Dioon edule var. purpusii

This member of the Cycadaceae family was given this name by Joseph Nelson Rose in 1909. It is found in Oaxaca state in Mexico at 1000-1500 metres, growing in a rich organic soil with some water and some to lots of sun. The caudex can grow to 40 centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to five centimetres in height. The cones are pale brown for the female, greenish brown for the male.

The genera name from the Greek dis 'twice' and oon 'egg'; refers to the paired seeds. The species name is honour of Carl Albert Purpus, a renowned plant collector in the early 1900s.