The narrow, oblong leaves of Acanthopsis villosa have busy margins from large, wavy, spine-tipped lobes or teeth. The leaf tapers to an acutely pointed tip bearing a long spine.

The blades are dark green, hairless and glossy, the conspicuous midrib pale cream. A distinct vein emerges from the midrib in each lobe ending at the acutely angled lobe tip; the long spine appearing to be the vein's continuation.

Whatever is hungry enough to eat these leaves will be very skilful or pay a painful price. Some spines in picture are white, others purplish while pale brown ones may also be present (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).