The third section of subgenus Panzhihuaensis, section Stangerioides Smitin., 1971 (Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam. Soc. 24: 168; genus Dyerocycas Nakai, 1943, Ordines, familiae, tribi, genera, etc.: 208; Epicycas de Laub., 1998, in de Laub. & Adema, Blumea 43: 388) is distinguished by yellow fruits that are not pruinose, have no fibrous layer, but have verrucose seeds, and by spindle-shaped to fusiform pollen cones, mostly to 60 x 8-13 cm, with flexible blunt (rounded) not deflexed apices to the microsporophylls.  There is ridge on the upper side of the microsporophyll apex and sporadically one or more prickles 3-6 mm long.  The stem is subterraneous at first, usually bulbous, and in most cases eventually developing an above ground trunk.  The flat leaves reach more than two meters long and are at least one third and sometimes more than one half a thorny petiole. The midvein is prominently raised on the upper side of the pinnae, equally or less so below.  Restricted to southern China to northern Viet Nam and Thailand.  There are thirteen species which can be separated into two groups.  The type species is C. micholitzii. 

The first group of section Stangerioides is characterized by flat acuminate not pungent undulate pinnae, in most cases with the midvein flat or weakly raised below.  The leaves reach to at least 250 cm with nearly half to sometimes more than half petiole.  The stems are mostly subterranean but may eventually produce a stubby or weak growth above ground to as much as a meter high.  The sterile apical part of the microsporophyll extends for 2-6 mm.  There are nine species in this group three of which have dichotomizing pinnae. 

Cycas micholitzii Dyer, 1905 (Gard. Chron. 38: 142) 
C. bifida (Dyer) Hill, 2004 (Bot. Rev.70: 161; C. rumphii Miq. Var. bifida Dyer, 1903,  Jour. Linn. Soc. Bot. 26: 560) 
C. multifrondis Wang, 1996 (in Wang & Liang, Cycads in China: 80) 
Distinguished by dichotomizing pinnae somewhat dispersed and subtended by an unbranched secondary rachis up to 35 mm long bearing up to three unequal dichotomizing blade segments, one near its base and one or a pair terminally.  Blade dichotomies occur variously from one sixth to nearly half way from their base and individual blade segments may dichotomize twice.  Apically the pinnae progressively become less complex.  The pinnae are up to at least 41 cm long and each segment is 17-25 mm wide.  The aerial stem, if present, dwindles to 4-5 cm in diameter and up to 60 cm long.  The leaves are few in number and up to at least 350 cm long up to nearly half petiole.  The long tapering pollen cone is 35-55 x 6-8 cm.  The apex of the microsporophyll bears serrations or rudimentary prickles.  The segments on the megasporophyll are up to 50 mm long with an apical spine to 70 mm and bearing a few shorter lateral segments.  The fruit is up to 25 x 20 mm.  Osborne et al (2007, Cycads of Vietnam: 57) report in northern Viet Nam giant C. bifida leaves up to 7 meters long with pinnae up to 60 cm long, but these are not the sizes ordinarily encountered in nearby China.  Perhaps these are examples of C. longipetiolula (see photo of pinnule in Encephalartos 72: 19, 2002).  Occurs in the highlands of central Viet Nam a short way into China. 

Cycas longipetiolula Wang, 1996 (in Wang & Liang, Cycads in China: 68)
C. debaoensis Zhong & Chen, 1997 (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 35: 571) 
Distinguished by dichotomizing pinnae somewhat dispersed and subtended by a secondary rachis up to about 125 mm long bearing up to half a dozen unequal dichotomizing blade segments the lowermost of which may have an up to 25 mm petiolule and may dichotomize twice, the dichotomies being in the lower third of the segment.  Apically the pinnae progressively reduce in size.  The blade segments are up to at least 56 cm long, each segment of which is 11-19 mm wide.  The leaves are few in number and reach to well over four meters long  up to half of which is petiole.  The bulb may protrude up to 20 cm above ground.  The long tapering pollen cone is 36 x 6 cm (perhaps more).  The apex of the microsporophyll is serrulate.  The segments on the megasporophyll are up to 50 mm long with a more or less protruding apical spine bearing a number of shorter lateral segments.  The fruit is up to 27 x 22 mm.  Endemic to Yunnan and nearby parts of Guangxi just north of Viet Nam, and possibly there too. 

Cycas multipinnata Chen & Yang, 1994 (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 32: 239) 
Distinguished by dichotomizing pinnae, the compound primary divisions spaced 16-20 cm apart on the rachis, the longest at or near the base with a secondary rachis up to about 60 cm long or more bearing up to about 9 lateral and terminal compound divisions the lowermost of which can have a tertiary rachis up to something like 15 cm and bear up to at least half a dozen unequal blade segments the lower and terminal of which may dichotomize twice, the lower may have a petiolule to about 40 mm long.  The divisions become progressively less complex apically (the larger primary divisions are equivalent to a whole C. longipetiolula leaf).  The blade segments are up to about 30 cm x 15-22 mm.  The leaves are few in number, moderately keeled, and at least 6 meters long, at least half of which is petiole.  The bulb may protrude aerially to as much as 40 cm with a diameter of 10-20 cm.  The spindle-shaped pollen cones are up to 40 x 6-8 cm.  The apex of the microsporophyll is slightly serrate.  The segments on the megasporophyll are up to 40 mm long with a somewhat longer apical spine which bears a few shorter lateral segments.  The fruit is up to 32 x28 mm.  Endemic to a small area in northernmost Viet Nam and nearby parts of China. 

Cycas fugax Hill, Nguyen, & Loc, 2004 (Bot. Rev. 70: 145) 
Distinguished by the long (up to 90 mm) segments on the apical part of the megasporophyll and pinnae 40-50 cm x 18-27 mm.  The stem is completely subterranean.  The flat leaves are few in number and at least 450 cm long, somewhat more than half of which is petiole.  The spindle-shaped pollen cones are about 60 cm long.  The apical spine of the megasporophyll is little if at all different from the lateral segments.  The fruit is about 27 x 21 mm.  Endemic to a small area north of Hanoi. 

Cycas tonkinensis (Linden & Rodigas) Linden & Rodigas, 1886 (Ill. Hort. 33: 27;  Zamia tonkinensis Linden & Rodigas, 1885, Ill. Hort. 32: 27) 
C. collina Hill, Nguyen, & Loc, 2004 (Bot. Rev. 70: 142)
Distinguished by pinnae 28-45 cm x 15-28 mm, by flat leaves few in number up to 350 cm long about half of which is petiole, and by spindle-shaped pollen cones up to 60 x 11 cm.  Thorns on the petioles are 4-10 mm long (a trait apparently shared by C. chevalieri).  The subterranean stem emerges to form a weak trunk, often procumbent, up to a meter long and 20 cm in diameter.  The apex of the microsporophyll is blunt.  Segments of the megasporophyll are up to 35 mm long and the apical spine is not distinct but may be partially fused with adjacent segments.  The fruit is up to 27 x 22 mm.  C. tonkinensis is based on a plate with a description which make a clear match for C. collina up to and including the prominent thorns on the petiole.  To argue that the rendition shows more tapered pinnae than any known Cycas has (the description gives lanceolate and acuminate) invalidates the name is pedantic and inappropriate.  Material from Yunnan described under various names including C. siamensis  (because the locals call it the Siamese cycad), C. balansae, and the unpublished name, C. yunnanensis, belong here.  Endemic to northwestern Viet Nam to the southernmost part of Yunnan. 

Cycas simplicipinna (Smitinand) Hill, 1995 (Proc. Third Int. Conf. Cycad Biol.: 150; C. micholitzii Dyer var simplicipinna Smitinand, 1971, Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 24: 164) 
C. hoabinhensis Loc & Nguyen, 2004 (Bot. Rev. 70: 153) 
C. brachycantha Hill, Nguyen, & Loc, 2004 (Bot. Rev. 70: 155) 
Distinguished by pinnae 20-28 cm x 14-20 mm, by flat leaves few in number up to 250 cm  about half of which is petiole, and by spindle-shaped pollen cones up to 24 x 4-6 cm.  The subterranean stem emerges to form a weak trunk often procumbent, up to about a meter long and 8-14 cm in diameter.  The apex of the microsporophyll is usually blunt.  Segments on the megasporophyll are up to 25 mm long, the apical spine not distinct but may be partially fused with adjacent segments.  The fruit is up to 27 x 20 mm.  Widely distributed across northern Thailand into northeastern Viet Nam. 

Cycas chevalieri Leandri, 1931 (in Lecomte & Gagnepain, Fl. Gen. Indo-chine 5: 1085) 
C. aculeata Hill & Nguyen, 2004 (Bot. Rev. 70: 149) 
Distinguished by pinnae 27-52 cm x 14-20 mm, by slightly keeled leaves, numerous in number, up to 250 cm long, about half of which is petiole, and by spindle-shaped pollen cones up to 25 x 7 cm.  The subterranean stem emerges to form a weak trunk, often procumbent, up to a little more than a meter long and up to 18 cm in diameter.  The apex of the microsporophyll is blunt.  Segments on the megasporophyll are up to 35 or 40 mm long.  The apical spine is not distinct but may partially fuse with adjacent segments.  The fruit is up to 27 x 20 mm.  Distributed in northern Viet Nam south of Tonkin. 

Cycas balansae Warburg, 1900 (Monsunia 1: 179)
C. guizhouensis Lan & Zou, 1983 (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21: 209)
Distinguished by pinnae 17-39 cm x 10-15 mm, by slightly keeled leaves, numerous, and up to at least 250 cm long, about half of which is petiole, and by spindle-shaped pollen cones up to 53 x 11 cm.  The subterranean stem emerges to form a weak trunk up to about one meter and 10-15 cm in diameter.  The apex of the microsporophyll is usually blunt.  Segments of the megasporophyll are up to 40 or 45 mm long, the apical spine hardly distinct but may be partly fused with adjacent segments.  The fruits are up to 29 x 23 mm.  Distributed from northeastern Viet Nam northward into China. 

Cycas szechuanensis Chen & Fu, 1975 (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 13: 81) 
C. segmentifida Wang & Deng, 1995 (Encephalartos 43: 11) 
C. fairylakea Wang, 1996 (in Wang & Liang, Cycads in China: 54) 
C. tanqingii Wang, 1996 (in Wang & Liang, Cycads in China: 134) 
C. xilingensis Chang & Zhong, 1997 (Acta Sci. Nat. Univ. Sunyatseni. 36: 69) 
C. dolichophylla Hill, Nguyen, & Loc, 2004 (Bot. Rev. 70: 157) 
Distinguished by pinnae 18-42 cm x 14-20 mm, spindle-shaped pollen cones 60 x 10 cm, and by fruits up to 40 x 36 mm.  The subterranean stem emerges to form a trunk more than a meter long and 25-30 cm in diameter.  The numerous flat leaves are up to at least 360 cm long nearly half of which is petiole.  The midvein of the pinnae is raised both above and below.  The apex of the microsporophyll usually has a 2-3 mm spine.  Segments of the megasporophyll are up to 50 mm long and the apex is often somewhat disorganized with fused segments with or without a distinct slightly longer apical spine.  Distributed half in northern Viet Nam and half in nearby China.  Long cultivated and thought to be native to Szechuan where it was extinct in the wild.  More recently found in areas further south. The segments of the megasporophyll in C. segmentifida may reach 65 mm long due to a reduced undivided central area. 
The second group of section Stangerioides is characterized by lanceolate pungent pinnae with the margins slightly bent and the midvein raised both above and below.  The numerous flat to slightly keeled leaves in most cases reach to at lest two meters long about one third of which is petiole.  The subterranean stems regularly emerge to form a trunk several meters tall.  The sterile apical part of the microsporophyll usually extends 4-10 mm and may have an apical spine 3-4 mm long.  There are four species in this group. 

Cycas sexseminifera Wei, 1996 (Guihaia 16: 1) 
C. longlinensis Chang & Zhong, 1997 (Acta Sci. Nat. Univ. Sunyatseni 36: 68) 
C. tropophylla Hill & Loc, 2004 (Bot. Rev. 70: 168) 
Distinguished by segments on the apex of the megasporophyll not reducing apically and reaching 40 mm in length and by fruits up to 28 x 25 mm.  The leaves are up to 210 cm long.  The pinnae are 13-38 cm x 6-13 mm.  The spindle-shaped pollen cones are up to 45 x 6-8 cm.  The apical spine on the megasporophyll is slightly longer than the segments and usually is partly fused with the adjacent segments.  Often growing on limestone or sandstone cliffs in northeastern Viet Nam and an unknown distance eastward into China (possibly as far as Hong Kong).  Because Warburg gave China as the origin for C. miquelii (see under C. elongata and C. clivicola), Chinese botanists attempted to fit it to their native species thus leading C. sexseminifera  to be identified as C. miquelii.  C. ferruginia does not occur in Viet Nam and material identified as such belong here. 

Cycas hainanensis Chen, 1975 (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 13: 82) 
Distinguished by segments on the apex of the megasporophyll not reducing apically and reaching 35 mm in length and by fruits up to 40 x 36 mm.  The leaves are up to 230 cm long.  The pinnae are 13-32 cm x 6-12 mm.  The pollen cones are spindle-shaped.  The apical spine on the megasporophyll is longer than the segments and oftern irregularly fused with adjacent segments.  Endemic to the eastern part of Hainan. 

Cycas taiwaniana Carruth., 1893 (Jour. Bot. 31: 2) 
Distinguished by segments on the megasporophyll decreasing apically to a triangular toothed projection.  The leaves are up to three meters long.  The pinnae are 12-40 cm x 6-18 mm.  The fusiform (tapering ) pollen cones are up to 70 x 13 cm.  The fruits are up to 45 x 36 mm.  Endemic to Guangdong.  The original population at Takow (Kaohsiung), Taiwan, by the harbor, has since been eliminated (as testified by letters at Kew). 

Cycas diannanensis Guan & Tao, 1995 (Sichuan Forestry Survey & Design 4: 1) 
C. multiovula Wang, 1996 (in Wang & Liang, Cycads in China: 83) 
C. parvula Yang, 1996 (in Wang & Liang, Cycads in China: 93) 
C. shiwandashanica Chang & Zhong, 1997 (Acta Sc. Nat. Univ. Sunyatseni 36: 67) 
C. multifida Chang & Zhong, 1997 ( Acta Sci. Nat. Univ. Sunyatseni 36: 70) 
Distinguished by segments on the megasporophyll decreasing apically all the way to the slightly projecting apex.  The leaves are up to 330 cm long.  The pinnae are 13-32 cm x 9-16 mm.  The pollen cones are up to 65 x 13 cm.  The fruits are up to 40 x 32 mm.  It may be that the megasporophyll differences are no more than variations within a population or even an individual and that C. diannanensis is the same as C. taiwaniana  Spread out in southern Yunnan and western Guangxi all along the Viet Nam border (and therefore likely in Viet Nam).