Zamiaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Dioon angustifolium

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Dioon angustifolium is a slow-growing, evergreen, palm-like plant with an erect to decumbent, unbranched main stem that can eventually be up to 2.5 metres tall and 20 - 40cm in diameter; this is topped by a crown of numerous large leaves each around 90 - 140cm long[ 1935 Title The Cycads Publication Author Whitelock L.M. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2002 ISBN 0-88192-522-5 Description An excellent book dealing with the eleven different genera and almost 300 species of plants we know as Cycads. There are detailed descriptions and a host of other information for each species. ]. The edible seed is gathered from the wild and used locally. There is a long history of the use of this plant as a food in Mexico - in the past it was often used as a staple food, though now it is more likely to be used only in times of food shortage. The population of Dioon angustifolium has declined by 10 - 30% in different subpopulations over the past 50 years, and there is an estimated ongoing decline of at least 20% over the next generation. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSouthern N. America - northeastern Mexico (Nuevo León, Tamaulipas).

HabitatAmong rocks and on slopes in drier types of deciduous forest and shrubland[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Generally in areas transitional between tropical deciduous forest and oak woodland, growing in rocky habitats or on steep cliffs; at elevations from 500 - 1,500 metres[ 1935 Title The Cycads Publication Author Whitelock L.M. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2002 ISBN 0-88192-522-5 Description An excellent book dealing with the eleven different genera and almost 300 species of plants we know as Cycads. There are detailed descriptions and a host of other information for each species. ].