Abstract: A flail element including a base at the proximal end of the flail element which is connected to a pair of elongated fingers. The base has a bore formed therein which is sized to receive a mounting rod. The bore and the fingers are split to enable a flail to be mounted on the rod by spreading open the fingers and the bore and snapping the flail segment over the rod. Another method of attachment can be achieved by utilizing the shaped base and an appropriate receiving system. The elongated fingers and base form a substantially unitary flail element structure. A plurality of flail elements are mounted to the mounting rod to form a flail. In a defoliating machine a plurality of flails are mounted to a rotating drum.