The leaf of Encephalartos senticosus is bright green here; it may also be dark, glossy green.

The leaflets overlap much, pushing each other for space and not twisting sideways. This prevents them from presenting a straight line of consecutive leaflet tips. Leaflets do show slight upward curvature. They are hard, their tips sharply, acutely pointed and sometimes spiny.

Length of the leaflets varies between 12 cm and 18 cm. Longest in the central parts of the leaf, they become shorter nearer the leaf base, until there are only prickles right at the base.

Very few marginal teeth are seen here; there may be teeth on both margins of the leaves of this plant (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).