A leaf boat is a traditional toy made in various parts of the world using nothing but a leaf. Various types of leaves are used depending on the area, most commonly flag iris, reed leaves and

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, bu ...

leaves.

Names in other languages

Finnish Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

: ''kaislavene'' 'reed boat' *

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

: ''Schilfblattboot'' 'reed leaf boat' *

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

: ''竹葉舟'' 'bamboo leaf boat' or ''笹の葉舟'' ' sasa leaf boat' *

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

: 'bamboo leaf boat' *

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

: ''bàta-siolastair'' 'iris boat' *

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

: ''barco de hoja de caña'' 'reed leaf boat' *

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

: ''vassbåt'' 'reed boat'

Process

In most cases, the process of the more complex boats involves: # folding over the ends of the leaf # tearing the leaf on both sides alongside of the midrib # tucking the torn sections into each other to form the prow and stem # folding a sail and tucking the far end into the stem.

External links

Building a Finnish-style leaf boat

Building a Chinese-stlye bamboo leaf boat

Traditional toys Articles containing video clips {{toy-stub