the numerous leaves are stiff, straight or slightly curved and spread horizontally, usually at right angles to the crown. the leaves are 1 to 1.5 m long, 18 to 20 cm. the petiole is 17 to 30 cm long, bare, and is circular in cross section. the leaflets are young silvery slightly, yellowish in old age. they are tight and upper leaf area they overlap. at the tip of the leaf and towards the base, the leaflets become smaller, but not thorny. the middle leaflets are 10 to 17 cm long and 7 to 8 mm wide. at the bottom, 7 to 9 leaf veins are clearly prominent, the leaf margin is not serrated, but the leaf tip carries a sharp thorn.