Leaves 6-9 in number, rigid, thick, persistent, rosulate, curved; sheaths broadly
semilunate, to 2 cm high, 5 cm wide, light brown inside, dark castaneous, lustrous, glabrous outside, the upper margins serrate with short spines; blades oblong-triangular, long attenuate, filiform at the apex, 17-33 cm long, 2.5 cm wide at the base, dark green to purple red, gray lepidote on both surfaces, stronger beneath; margins serrate with strong, retrorse, black, 3-7 mm long spines, covered by white scales, 6-8 mm apart.