金櫻子(zi)常綠攀援灌木(mu),高可(ke)達5米;小枝粗壯,散生(sheng)(sheng)扁彎皮刺(ci),無毛(mao),小葉革質,通常3,稀5;小葉片橢圓狀(zhuang)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)、倒(dao)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)或披(pi)針狀(zhuang)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing),邊(bian)緣有銳鋸齒,上面亮綠色(se)(se),無毛(mao),下面黃綠色(se)(se);托葉離生(sheng)(sheng)或基部(bu)與葉柄合生(sheng)(sheng),披(pi)針形(xing)(xing)(xing),邊(bian)緣有細齒;花單生(sheng)(sheng)于葉腋,直徑5-7厘(li)米;花瓣(ban)白色(se)(se),寬倒(dao)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing),先端(duan)微凹(ao);果(guo)梨形(xing)(xing)(xing)、倒(dao)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing),稀近(jin)球形(xing)(xing)(xing),紫褐色(se)(se),外面密被刺(ci)毛(mao);花期4-6月,果(guo)期7-11月;喜生(sheng)(sheng)于向(xiang)陽的山野、田邊(bian)、溪畔灌木(mu)叢中,海(hai)拔200-1600米,產中國多省區,根皮含(han)鞣(rou)質可(ke)制栲膠,果(guo)實可(ke)熬糖及(ji)釀(niang)酒(jiu),根、葉、果(guo)均入藥。