金櫻子(zi)常(chang)綠(lv)攀援灌木(mu),高(gao)可達5米;小(xiao)枝粗壯,散(san)生(sheng)(sheng)扁(bian)彎皮刺,無(wu)毛(mao)(mao),小(xiao)葉革質,通常(chang)3,稀5;小(xiao)葉片橢圓狀卵(luan)(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)、倒卵(luan)(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)或(huo)披針狀卵(luan)(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing),邊緣(yuan)有銳鋸齒(chi),上面亮(liang)綠(lv)色,無(wu)毛(mao)(mao),下(xia)面黃綠(lv)色;托葉離生(sheng)(sheng)或(huo)基部(bu)與(yu)葉柄合生(sheng)(sheng),披針形(xing)(xing),邊緣(yuan)有細齒(chi);花單生(sheng)(sheng)于葉腋,直徑5-7厘米;花瓣(ban)白色,寬倒卵(luan)(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing),先端微凹;果梨(li)形(xing)(xing)、倒卵(luan)(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing),稀近球形(xing)(xing),紫褐色,外面密(mi)被刺毛(mao)(mao);花期4-6月(yue),果期7-11月(yue);喜(xi)生(sheng)(sheng)于向陽的山野、田邊、溪畔(pan)灌木(mu)叢中,海拔200-1600米,產中國多省(sheng)區,根皮含鞣質可制(zhi)栲膠,果實可熬糖及(ji)釀酒,根、葉、果均入藥。