Cycad?

[Aloha Palms]

Hey guys, looking to see if anyone has any idea of what type of Cycad this is?

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Dioon species. I’m not an expert but maybe edule or spinulosum

[Aloha Palms]

@TropicsEnjoyer Awesome! Thank you for the info.

[Tracy]

22 hours ago, Aloha Palms said:

I will have to disagree with the Dioon genus.  The leaflets appear like Encephalartos genus.  I won't speculate on the species.  It looks like it had an encounter with a weed whacker.  It is hard to tell if the leaflet spacing on the rachis is the result of it being stretched due to being grown in shade with so many leaflet missing.  

Take photos the next time it flushes and has hardened off the leaflets and update the thread,   The number of teeth on the leaflets may change as the plant matures, so you will get a better id on species over time.

 

[Aloha Palms]

2 hours ago, Tracy said:

I will have to disagree with the Dioon genus.  The leaflets appear like Encephalartos genus.  I won't speculate on the species.  It looks like it had an encounter with a weed whacker.  It is hard to tell if the leaflet spacing on the rachis is the result of it being stretched due to being grown in shade with so many leaflet missing.  

Take photos the next time it flushes and has hardened off the leaflets and update the thread,   The number of teeth on the leaflets may change as the plant matures, so you will get a better id on species over time.

 

Thank you, Tracy. I got it from a demo garden in LA. It was neglected growing in a mostly shaded area. They were going to get rid of it but I noticed that it looked like an Encephalartos so I asked if I could take it. I was able to take it home for free! I’ll plant it out in the sun and keep you guys updated with the next flush that occurs. 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

3 hours ago, Tracy said:

I will have to disagree with the Dioon genus.  The leaflets appear like Encephalartos genus.  I won't speculate on the species.  It looks like it had an encounter with a weed whacker.  It is hard to tell if the leaflet spacing on the rachis is the result of it being stretched due to being grown in shade with so many leaflet missing.  

Take photos the next time it flushes and has hardened off the leaflets and update the thread,   The number of teeth on the leaflets may change as the plant matures, so you will get a better id on species over time.

 

good point, i should’ve considered that the leaflets were farther apart than they tend to be on dioons. either way. a cool free cycad, most of the time even the most beat up ones become beauties

[Billeb]

On 9/17/2025 at 8:07 PM, TropicsEnjoyer said:

Dioon species. I’m not an expert but maybe edule or spinulosum

 

3 hours ago, Tracy said:

I will have to disagree with the Dioon genus.  The leaflets appear like Encephalartos genus.  I won't speculate on the species.  It looks like it had an encounter with a weed whacker.  It is hard to tell if the leaflet spacing on the rachis is the result of it being stretched due to being grown in shade with so many leaflet missing.  

Take photos the next time it flushes and has hardened off the leaflets and update the thread,   The number of teeth on the leaflets may change as the plant matures, so you will get a better id on species over time.

 

Agree with @Tracy, no way it’s Dioon and it’s definitely Encephalartos. At first look, I thought Munchii but that typically has diminishing leaflets to the caudex. Leaflet spines look similar tho. I have attached a small Munchii of mine that just flushed for comparison. 
Could be Altensteinii but as Tracy said, it’s just too young and hasn’t gotten its mature leaves yet. Leaflets are super spaced out, long petioles etc. Plant need to push another flush or two in full sun to really see its proper look. 
Surely it will become a nice plant. Cant beat the price too. Cycads are a slow game but worth it. 
 

-dale 

[Aloha Palms]

18 hours ago, Billeb said:

 

Agree with @Tracy, no way it’s Dioon and it’s definitely Encephalartos. At first look, I thought Munchii but that typically has diminishing leaflets to the caudex. Leaflet spines look similar tho. I have attached a small Munchii of mine that just flushed for comparison. 
Could be Altensteinii but as Tracy said, it’s just too young and hasn’t gotten its mature leaves yet. Leaflets are super spaced out, long petioles etc. Plant need to push another flush or two in full sun to really see its proper look. 
Surely it will become a nice plant. Cant beat the price too. Cycads are a slow game but worth it. 
 

-dale 

Thanks Dale! I appreciate the info. Just planted it out today on a sunny hillside. Stoked to see what it is.

[Tracy]

18 hours ago, Billeb said:

 

Agree with @Tracy, no way it’s Dioon and it’s definitely Encephalartos. At first look, I thought Munchii but that typically has diminishing leaflets to the caudex. Leaflet spines look similar tho. I have attached a small Munchii of mine that just flushed for comparison. 
Could be Altensteinii but as Tracy said, it’s just too young and hasn’t gotten its mature leaves yet. Leaflets are super spaced out, long petioles etc. Plant need to push another flush or two in full sun to really see its proper look. 
Surely it will become a nice plant. Cant beat the price too. Cycads are a slow game but worth it. 
 

-dale 

I also thought of Encephalartos munching Dale.  The teeth also resemble Encephalartos cupidus leaflets but there are other characteristics which are missing or obscured by the condition of the plant.  A flush or two from now should allow it to be more easily characterized. 

[Merlyn]

I'm going to buck the trend and suggest Dioon Spinulosum.  I only say this because in some leaflets they meet the rachis at the same width as the rest of the leaf.  Encephalartos generally taper at the attachment point.  It is super stretched out from too much shade, so the next flush should make it obvious.  

[TropicsEnjoyer]

45 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

I'm going to buck the trend and suggest Dioon Spinulosum.  I only say this because in some leaflets they meet the rachis at the same width as the rest of the leaf.  Encephalartos generally taper at the attachment point.  It is super stretched out from too much shade, so the next flush should make it obvious.  

that was my initial thought. an etiolated dioon specimen. it resembles encephalartos as well. so, like you say, the next flush in full sun will make it pretty clear

glad to know i’m not the only one with that alternate viewpoint 😂