The angular, blue leaflets of Encephalartos horridus differ much, but bear their two lateral lobes are only on one side, the lower one. The main, terminal lobe of the leaflet may deviate from straight to the opposite side of the lateral ones. All lobes are strongly spine-tipped. The angles of leaflet lobe-tips vary much.
Most leaflets and their lobes in picture bulge in the centre, or their margins are rolled under (Hugo, 2014; iNaturalist).