Encephalartos schaijesii is a species of cycad endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is only found near Kolwezi in Shaba Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It occurs in Miombo woodlands.
This cycad has an underground stem, up to 25 cm high and 20-30 cm in diameter, often with secondary stems from shoots at its base. Its pinnate leaves are erect, 80âÂÂ120 cm long, and form a crown atop the stem, supported by 2 cm long petioles. Each leaf has 48-58 pairs of lanceolate leaflets with spiny green glaucous margins, angled at 70-75ð on the rachis. It is dioecious, with male specimens bearing a single 15âÂÂ17 cm long, 4âÂÂ4.5 cm wide, greenish-yellow cone, and female specimens with a single 29âÂÂ32 cm long, 12âÂÂ15 cm wide cylindrical-ovoid cone, gray to greenish in color.