金(jin)櫻子常(chang)綠攀援灌木(mu),高可(ke)達5米(mi);小枝粗壯(zhuang),散生(sheng)扁(bian)彎皮刺,無毛(mao),小葉(xie)(xie)(xie)革質,通常(chang)3,稀(xi)(xi)5;小葉(xie)(xie)(xie)片(pian)橢圓狀卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)、倒卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)或披針(zhen)狀卵形(xing)(xing)(xing),邊緣(yuan)有銳鋸(ju)齒(chi),上面(mian)亮綠色,無毛(mao),下面(mian)黃(huang)綠色;托葉(xie)(xie)(xie)離生(sheng)或基部與葉(xie)(xie)(xie)柄(bing)合生(sheng),披針(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing),邊緣(yuan)有細齒(chi);花單生(sheng)于葉(xie)(xie)(xie)腋,直徑5-7厘米(mi);花瓣白色,寬倒卵形(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端微凹;果梨形(xing)(xing)(xing)、倒卵形(xing)(xing)(xing),稀(xi)(xi)近(jin)球形(xing)(xing)(xing),紫褐色,外面(mian)密被刺毛(mao);花期4-6月(yue),果期7-11月(yue);喜生(sheng)于向陽的(de)山(shan)野(ye)、田邊、溪(xi)畔灌木(mu)叢中(zhong),海拔(ba)200-1600米(mi),產中(zhong)國多省區,根(gen)皮含(han)鞣質可(ke)制栲膠,果實可(ke)熬糖及釀酒,根(gen)、葉(xie)(xie)(xie)、果均(jun)入藥。