The subgenus Panzhihuaensis Wang, 1996 (in Wang & Liang, Cycads in China: 26; Revoluta de Laub., 1998, Blumea 43: 382, based on C. revoluta) consists of those species having pectinate segments on either side of the apex of the megasporophyll to at least 15 mm long, either all of the same size or diminishing towards the apex.  The leaves are pinnate and develop to at least one meter in length, usually much longer.  Thorns are very common on the petioles but this condition is quite variable.  The ovoid or spindle-shaped pollen cones are at least 20 cm long, often much longer with a short 3-4 (occasionally to 6) cm peduncle.  The seed bearing aggregations form a tight globular cluster with a central projection of the tips of the uppermost megasporophylls, remaining compact with new leaf growth from the center. Confined to the southeastern part of Asia to the Philippines and the Ryukiu  Islands.  The type species is C. panzhihuaensis.  The 25 species of the subgenus can be subdivided into three sections based on characters of the fruit, the sporophylls, and the pinnae. 

The section Panzhihuaensis Wang (Asiorientales Schuster, 1932 in Engler, Pflanzenr. 99: 65. based on C. revoluta) is a group of more or less relicts on the northern and eastern geographic margins of its subgenus, both specialized and intermediate between the other two sections.  It is distinguished by the fruits not having a fibrous layer, by the seed not verrucose, by the blunt (to 10 mm) sterile apex of the rigid microsporophylls sharply deflexed with a small (to 10 mm) acumen or apical spine , and by the midvein in the spinescent tipped pinnae prominent below but flat or even depressed above.  The pinnae are up to 8 mm wide, the margins bent.  Small trees that reach to over three meters high.  Flat to slightly keeled leaves to about 150 cm long with a petiole mostly to about one sixth to one tenth the length and at least half covered by thorns.  Pollen cones fusiform (tapering-spindle shape), at least 50 cm long a 8-12 cm in diameter.  Segments of the apical part of the megasporophyll are up to about 40 mm long x 3 mm wide at the base but diminishing slightly towards the apex and then with a few shorter segments on the apical spine which projects slightly above the lateral segments.  The lack of a fibrous layer in the fruit, the fusiform pollen cone, and the blunt apex of the microsporophyll, as well as the shape of the megasporophyll resemble section Stangerioides.  The distinct spine on the microsporophyll, the spinescent tipped pinnae, and the absence of a verrucose surface on the seed relates to section Indosinensis.  There are five species in the section. 

Cycas panzhihuaensis Shou & Yang, l981 (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 335)
C. hongheensis Yang & Yang, 1996 (in Wang & Liang, Cycads in China: 62) 
Distinguished by the pinnae 12-23 cm x 5-7 mm, by segments of the megasporophyll up to 40 mm, by smooth seeds, and by not pruinose red to orange fruits.  The gray-green pinnae do not reduce basally.  The fruit reaches to 35 x 30 mm.  C. hongheensis is incompletely known and can not be ruled distinct from panzhihuaensis.  Endemic where Szechuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou Provinces come together, the most northerly of all Chinese cycads. 

Cycas zambalensis Madulid & Agoo, 2005 (Blumea 50: 520)
Distinguished by pinnae 12-21 cm x 5-8 mm, by segments of the megasporophyll to 15 mm, and by smooth seeds.  The keeled leaves reach 105 cm long.  The dark green  pinnae do not reduce basally.  The spine on the microsporophyll is 5-10 mm long.  The fruits reach 35 x 30 mm and are reported to be yellow.  It superficially resembles nearby  C. riuminiana but is actually very close to C.panzhihuaensis from which it differs by the short segments of the megasporophyll, by small leaves, and by the longer spine on the microsporophyll. 

Cycas revoluta

Cycas taitungensis Shen, Hill, Tsou, & Chen, 1994 (Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 35: 135) 
Distinguished by pinnae 12-23 cm x 4-8 mm, by ribbed seeds, by pruinose fruits, tomentose at first, becoming red to orange and up to 40 x 33 mm. The green pinnae reduce in size basally to thorns.  Endemic to southeastern Taiwan and reportedly from nearby mainland China where its presence could be the result of cultivation.  Long thought to be C. taiwaniana which is a substantially different species. 

Cycas wadei Merr., 1936 (Philipp. Jour. Sci. 60: 234) 
Distinguished by pinnae 14-26 cm x 5-8 mm, by ribbed seeds, and by non pruinose fruit not tomentose at first and becoming orange and up to 40 x 30 mm  The green pinnae do not reduce in size basally.  The apex of the microsporophyll is a narrow lobe rather than a spine.  Endemic to Culion Island in the Philippines.