Plants short-stemmed, 200-300 mm tall exÂcluding inflorescence, usually solitary. Leaves densely rosulate, narrowly lanceolate, 80-200 x 20-40 mm, upper surface flat, lower surface convex, obscurely carinate towards apex, yelÂlowish to brownish green, keel with a row of black or white prickles, margins with hard, black or white, pungent teeth, apex with a hard, black, pungent spine. Inflorescence a dense raceme; peduncle 0.4-1 m long; bracts narrowÂly lanceolate-acuminate, 25-35 x 5-8 mm, 3-5-nerved. Flowers scarlet in bud, yellowish at flowering, incurved, ± cylindric, 35-45 mm long; pedicels 15-25 mm, lengthening in fruit. Anthers exserted 3-5 mm. Ovary 6-7 x 2-3 mm, green; style exserted 4-7 mm. Fruit ± 28 x 12 mm, grey. Flowering time May to July.
