Encephalartos hirsutus P.J.H. Hurter is described from the Northern Transvaal. This species resembles E. eugene-maraisii Verdoorn, E. dolomiticus Lavranos & Goode, E. dyerianus Lavranos & Goode, E. lehmannii Lehm., E. princeps R.A. Dyer and E. middelburgensis Vorster at al, in its pungent, stiff, glaucous leaves. It differs from all these species in its decurrent pinnae and glabrous sporophylls with a waxy covering.