To include the stable-variable lag in nilpotent center-manifold reduction, let . Invariance of the center manifold requires
For the homogeneous polynomial , comparison of coefficients successively gives
Only is needed for the requested cubic normal form. The reduced first equation has ; the reduced second equation, obtained by replacing with in its cubic term, has and . Therefore the cubic elimination at a nilpotent double-zero point yields
In particular, ignoring the lag and imposing exactly would incorrectly give . The full cubic graph above provides a direct substitution check.