小喬木,高達2.5-5米(mi)(mi),樹枝(zhi)直(zhi)立性(xing)強;小枝(zhi)細弱(ruo)圓(yuan)柱形(xing)(xing)(xing),嫩(nen)時被(bei)短(duan)柔毛(mao)(mao)(mao),老時脫(tuo)落(luo)(luo),紫紅色(se)或(huo)(huo)暗褐色(se),具(ju)稀(xi)疏皮孔;冬芽卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端(duan)急(ji)尖(jian),無毛(mao)(mao)(mao)或(huo)(huo)僅邊(bian)緣有(you)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),暗紫色(se)。葉片(pian)(pian)(pian)長(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)5-10厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi),寬2.5-5厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi),先(xian)端(duan)急(ji)尖(jian)或(huo)(huo)漸(jian)尖(jian),基(ji)(ji)部楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)稀(xi)近圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),邊(bian)緣有(you)尖(jian)銳鋸齒,嫩(nen)葉被(bei)短(duan)柔毛(mao)(mao)(mao),下面較密(mi),老時脫(tuo)落(luo)(luo);葉柄長(chang)(chang)2-3.5厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi);托(tuo)葉膜質,線(xian)(xian)狀(zhuang)披針形(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端(duan)漸(jian)尖(jian),邊(bian)緣有(you)疏生腺齒,近于無毛(mao)(mao)(mao),早落(luo)(luo)。傘形(xing)(xing)(xing)總狀(zhuang)花(hua)(hua)序,有(you)花(hua)(hua)4-7朵,集生于小枝(zhi)頂端(duan),花(hua)(hua)梗長(chang)(chang)2-3厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi),嫩(nen)時被(bei)長(chang)(chang)柔毛(mao)(mao)(mao),逐漸(jian)脫(tuo)落(luo)(luo);苞(bao)片(pian)(pian)(pian)膜質,線(xian)(xian)狀(zhuang)披針形(xing)(xing)(xing),早落(luo)(luo);花(hua)(hua)直(zhi)徑約4厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi);萼(e)(e)筒外面密(mi)被(bei)白(bai)色(se)長(chang)(chang)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao)(mao)(mao);萼(e)(e)片(pian)(pian)(pian)三(san)(san)角卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),三(san)(san)角披針形(xing)(xing)(xing)至長(chang)(chang)卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端(duan)急(ji)尖(jian)或(huo)(huo)漸(jian)尖(jian),全緣,長(chang)(chang)5-8毫米(mi)(mi),內面被(bei)白(bai)色(se)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),外面較稀(xi)疏,萼(e)(e)片(pian)(pian)(pian)與萼(e)(e)筒等長(chang)(chang)或(huo)(huo)稍長(chang)(chang);花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)近圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)長(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)約1.5厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi),基(ji)(ji)部有(you)短(duan)爪,粉紅色(se);雄蕊約20,花(hua)(hua)絲長(chang)(chang)短(duan)不(bu)等,比花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)稍短(duan);花(hua)(hua)柱5,基(ji)(ji)部具(ju)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),約與雄蕊等長(chang)(chang)。果實(shi)近球形(xing)(xing)(xing),直(zhi)徑1-1.5厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi),紅色(se),萼(e)(e)洼(wa)梗洼(wa)均下陷,萼(e)(e)片(pian)(pian)(pian)多數脫(tuo)落(luo)(luo),少數宿(su)存。花(hua)(hua)期4-5月,果期8-9月。
喜光(guang),耐寒(han),忌(ji)水澇,忌(ji)空氣過濕(shi),較耐干旱(han)。
產(chan)遼寧、河北、山西、山東(dong)、陜(shan)西、甘肅(su)、云南。海拔100-2400米。
海棠通常以嫁接或(huo)分株繁殖(zhi),亦(yi)可用播(bo)種、壓條及(ji)根插等方法繁殖(zhi)。用嫁接所得苗木,開花可以提早,而且能保持原有(you)優良(liang)特性。
實生苗(miao)雖生長較(jiao)慢,但常(chang)產生變(bian)異(yi),故(gu)為獲(huo)得大量砧木或雜交育種(zhong)時,仍采用播(bo)種(zhong)法。中(zhong)國北方(fang)常(chang)用的(de)(de)(de)砧木種(zhong)類有山定子、西府(fu)海棠、裂葉海棠果等;南方(fang)則(ze)用湖北海棠。海棠種(zhong)子在播(bo)種(zhong)前,必(bi)須經(jing)過30天(tian)~100天(tian)低(di)溫(wen)層(ceng)積(ji)處理(li)。充(chong)分層(ceng)積(ji)的(de)(de)(de)種(zhong)子,出(chu)苗(miao)快(kuai)、整齊,而且(qie)出(chu)苗(miao)率(lv)高;不(bu)層(ceng)積(ji)的(de)(de)(de)種(zhong)子不(bu)能(neng)發(fa)芽,或極(ji)少發(fa)芽。也可(ke)(ke)在秋季采果、去肉、稍晾(liang)后(hou)(hou)即播(bo)種(zhong)在沙床上,讓種(zhong)子自然后(hou)(hou)熟(shu)。覆(fu)土(tu)深度約1厘(li)米,上覆(fu)塑(su)料(liao)膜(mo)保墑,出(chu)苗(miao)后(hou)(hou)掀去塑(su)料(liao)膜(mo),及時撒施一層(ceng)疏松肥土(tu),苗(miao)期加強肥水管理(li),當年(nian)晚秋便可(ke)(ke)移栽(zai)。
以(yi)播種繁殖的實生苗為砧木,進(jin)行(xing)枝(zhi)接(jie)或芽(ya)接(jie)。進(jin)行(xing)枝(zhi)接(jie)或芽(ya)接(jie)。春(chun)季樹液流(liu)動發(fa)芽(ya)進(jin)行(xing)枝(zhi)接(jie),秋季(7月~9月間)可(ke)以(yi)芽(ya)接(jie)。枝(zhi)接(jie)可(ke)用(yong)切接(jie)、劈(pi)接(jie)等法(fa)(fa)。接(jie)穗選(xuan)取發(fa)育充實的1年生枝(zhi)條,取其(qi)中段(duan)(有2個以(yi)上(shang)飽滿的芽(ya)),接(jie)后(hou)上(shang)細土蓋住(zhu)接(jie)穗,芽(ya)接(jie)多用(yong)“T”字接(jie)法(fa)(fa),接(jie)后(hou)10天左右(you),凡芽(ya)新鮮,葉柄一角即落者(zhe)為接(jie)活之(zhi)證明(ming),數日后(hou)即可(ke)去除(chu)扎(zha)縛(fu)物。當苗高80厘米~100厘米時(shi),養成骨干枝(zhi),嗣(si)后(hou)只修剪過密(mi)枝(zhi)、內向枝(zhi)、重疊枝(zhi)、保(bao)持圓整(zheng)樹冠。
為常見栽(zai)培的果(guo)樹及(ji)觀賞樹。樹姿直(zhi)立,花(hua)(hua)朵(duo)密集。果(guo)味酸甜,可供鮮食及(ji)加工用。栽(zai)培品(pin)種很多,果(guo)實形狀、大小、顏色和成熟(shu)期均有差別,所以(yi)有熱花(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)、冷花(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)、鐵(tie)花(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)、紫(zi)海(hai)(hai)(hai)棠、紅(hong)(hong)海(hai)(hai)(hai)棠、老海(hai)(hai)(hai)紅(hong)(hong)、八楞海(hai)(hai)(hai)棠等名稱。華北有些地區用作(zuo)蘋果(guo)或花(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)的砧(zhen)木,生長良好(hao),比(bi)山荊子抗(kang)旱力(li)強。
西(xi)府(fu)海(hai)棠在(zai)海(hai)棠花類中樹態峭(qiao)立,似亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)少女。花紅(hong),葉(xie)綠,果美(mei)(mei),不論(lun)孤植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、列植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、叢(cong)(cong)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)均(jun)極美(mei)(mei)觀。花色艷(yan)麗(li),一(yi)般多(duo)栽(zai)培于(yu)庭園供綠化用。西(xi)府(fu)海(hai)棠在(zai)海(hai)棠花類中樹態峭(qiao)立,似亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)亭(ting)(ting)(ting)(ting)少女。花朵紅(hong)粉相間,葉(xie)子嫩綠可愛(ai),果實鮮美(mei)(mei)誘人,不論(lun)孤植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、列植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、叢(cong)(cong)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)均(jun)極為美(mei)(mei)觀。最宜植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)于(yu)水(shui)濱(bin)及小庭一(yi)隅。
郭(guo)稹海(hai)(hai)棠(tang)詩(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)“朱欄明(ming)媚照黃塘(tang),芳樹交加枕短墻(qiang)。”就是(shi)最(zui)生動形(xing)象(xiang)的寫照。新式庭園中(zhong)(zhong),以(yi)濃綠針葉(xie)樹為(wei)背(bei)景,植海(hai)(hai)棠(tang)于前列,則其(qi)色彩尤覺奪目(mu),若列植為(wei)花籬,鮮花怒(nu)放,蔚為(wei)壯觀。
海(hai)(hai)棠花開嬌(jiao)艷(yan)動人(ren),但一般的海(hai)(hai)棠花無香(xiang)味(wei),只有(you)西府海(hai)(hai)棠既香(xiang)且艷(yan),是(shi)海(hai)(hai)棠中(zhong)的上品。其花未(wei)開時,花蕾(lei)紅(hong)艷(yan),似胭脂點點,開后則漸(jian)變粉紅(hong),有(you)如曉天明霞。
北(bei)京故(gu)宮(gong)御(yu)花園和頤和園中就植有西府海棠,每到春夏(xia)之交(jiao),迎風峭立,花姿(zi)明媚動人,楚(chu)楚(chu)有致,與玉(yu)蘭、牡(mu)丹、桂(gui)花相伴,形成“玉(yu)棠富貴”的之意。 ?
果實稱為海棠果,味形(xing)皆似山楂,酸甜(tian)可(ke)口(kou),可(ke)鮮(xian)食或制作蜜餞。
將青(qing)刺(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)葉與車前草、海棠果(guo)(guo)(guo)一同煨服,有消炎、清涼、解毒作用(yong)。人畜誤食(shi)中毒,用(yong)青(qing)刺(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)葉搗碎擠出(chu)汁液服用(yong),可排毒解毒。青(qing)刺(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)嫩葉作為(wei)蔬菜或腌制(zhi)成咸菜食(shi)用(yong),有開胃消食(shi)、清熱去火(huo)、抑制(zhi)口(kou)腔及腸道炎癥等較好的治療(liao)作用(yong)。
用青(qing)(qing)刺(ci)(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)果(guo)(guo)(guo)實、葉(xie)煮水洗(xi)腳,可預防(fang)和治(zhi)療(liao)腳氣病。青(qing)(qing)刺(ci)(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)仁可用于榨油(you),經常(chang)食用青(qing)(qing)刺(ci)(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)油(you),可降低血(xue)(xue)脂,調節(jie)血(xue)(xue)壓,促(cu)進微循(xun)環,增(zeng)強機(ji)體(ti)的抵抗力,使(shi)人延年益(yi)壽(shou)。青(qing)(qing)刺(ci)(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)油(you)還(huan)廣泛用于治(zhi)療(liao)皮膚(fu)燒傷、皮膚(fu)潰(kui)爛等。對(dui)青(qing)(qing)刺(ci)(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)油(you)的脂肪酸組成分(fen)析較多(duo),而對(dui)青(qing)(qing)刺(ci)(ci)(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)仁、葉(xie)中的元(yuan)素分(fen)析未見(jian)報道。