Musical leaf

The musical leaf is one of any leaves which is used to play music on. It goes by many names, including leaflute, leaf flute, leaf whistle, gum leaf, and leafophone. In Cambodia it is called a slek (Khmer: ស្លឹក) and is played by country people in Cambodia, made from the leaves of broad-leaf trees, including the sakrom and khnoung trees. It is also known as phlom slek, 'blow leaf.' To play a leaf, the musician curls the edge of a leaf into a semi-circle (along the leaf's long edge) and "places the arch between the lips", making sure that the leaf is touching both upper and lower lips. The leaf vibrates in contact with them as the player blows air across it. The player can control the pitch of the noise with their upper lip.

An instrument of country people, it has been observed being played by herders riding their water buffalo in the rice fields. While it is used to imitate sounds wild animals make, it can produce sustained sound, a sharp, high-pitched whistle. Players can control the pitch and make songs, normally solo, but sometimes with other instruments.

Similar instruments are used in other places under different names and from the leaves of different species, such as the gum leaf (from eucalypts) in Australia, grass flutes in Japan, the pipirma in Nepal, and tree leaf flute in China.