小喬木(mu),高(gao)達2.5-5米(mi),樹枝直立(li)性強;小枝細弱(ruo)圓(yuan)柱形(xing)(xing)(xing),嫩時被短(duan)柔(rou)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),老時脫落,紫紅色或(huo)暗褐色,具稀(xi)(xi)疏(shu)皮孔;冬芽卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端急(ji)尖,無(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao)或(huo)僅邊緣(yuan)有(you)(you)絨毛(mao)(mao)(mao),暗紫色。葉(xie)(xie)片(pian)(pian)長(chang)(chang)橢(tuo)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)橢(tuo)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)5-10厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),寬2.5-5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),先(xian)端急(ji)尖或(huo)漸尖,基部楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)稀(xi)(xi)近(jin)(jin)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),邊緣(yuan)有(you)(you)尖銳鋸齒,嫩葉(xie)(xie)被短(duan)柔(rou)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),下面較密(mi),老時脫落;葉(xie)(xie)柄長(chang)(chang)2-3.5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi);托葉(xie)(xie)膜質(zhi),線狀披針(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端漸尖,邊緣(yuan)有(you)(you)疏(shu)生腺齒,近(jin)(jin)于(yu)無(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),早(zao)落。傘形(xing)(xing)(xing)總狀花(hua)(hua)序(xu),有(you)(you)花(hua)(hua)4-7朵(duo),集生于(yu)小枝頂端,花(hua)(hua)梗長(chang)(chang)2-3厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),嫩時被長(chang)(chang)柔(rou)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),逐漸脫落;苞片(pian)(pian)膜質(zhi),線狀披針(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing),早(zao)落;花(hua)(hua)直徑約(yue)(yue)4厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi);萼(e)筒外(wai)面密(mi)被白(bai)色長(chang)(chang)絨毛(mao)(mao)(mao);萼(e)片(pian)(pian)三(san)角卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),三(san)角披針(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing)至長(chang)(chang)卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端急(ji)尖或(huo)漸尖,全(quan)緣(yuan),長(chang)(chang)5-8毫米(mi),內面被白(bai)色絨毛(mao)(mao)(mao),外(wai)面較稀(xi)(xi)疏(shu),萼(e)片(pian)(pian)與萼(e)筒等長(chang)(chang)或(huo)稍長(chang)(chang);花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)近(jin)(jin)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)長(chang)(chang)橢(tuo)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)約(yue)(yue)1.5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),基部有(you)(you)短(duan)爪,粉(fen)紅色;雄(xiong)蕊約(yue)(yue)20,花(hua)(hua)絲(si)長(chang)(chang)短(duan)不等,比花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)稍短(duan);花(hua)(hua)柱5,基部具絨毛(mao)(mao)(mao),約(yue)(yue)與雄(xiong)蕊等長(chang)(chang)。果(guo)實近(jin)(jin)球形(xing)(xing)(xing),直徑1-1.5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),紅色,萼(e)洼梗洼均下陷(xian),萼(e)片(pian)(pian)多數脫落,少(shao)數宿存。花(hua)(hua)期4-5月(yue),果(guo)期8-9月(yue)。
喜光,耐寒,忌水澇,忌空氣過濕,較耐干旱。
產遼寧、河北、山西、山東、陜西、甘肅(su)、云南。海拔100-2400米(mi)。
海棠通(tong)常以嫁接或分(fen)株繁殖,亦可用播種(zhong)、壓條及根(gen)插(cha)等方法繁殖。用嫁接所得苗木,開花可以提早(zao),而且能(neng)保持原有優(you)良特性。
實(shi)生(sheng)苗(miao)(miao)雖生(sheng)長較慢,但常產生(sheng)變異,故為獲得大(da)量砧木(mu)或(huo)雜交育(yu)種(zhong)時,仍采用播種(zhong)法(fa)。中國北方(fang)常用的砧木(mu)種(zhong)類有山(shan)定子、西府海(hai)棠、裂葉海(hai)棠果等;南(nan)方(fang)則(ze)用湖北海(hai)棠。海(hai)棠種(zhong)子在(zai)播種(zhong)前(qian),必(bi)須經(jing)過30天~100天低(di)溫層(ceng)(ceng)積(ji)處理(li)。充(chong)分層(ceng)(ceng)積(ji)的種(zhong)子,出苗(miao)(miao)快(kuai)、整齊,而(er)且出苗(miao)(miao)率高;不(bu)層(ceng)(ceng)積(ji)的種(zhong)子不(bu)能發芽(ya),或(huo)極少發芽(ya)。也可(ke)在(zai)秋(qiu)(qiu)季(ji)采果、去肉、稍晾后(hou)即播種(zhong)在(zai)沙(sha)床上(shang),讓種(zhong)子自然后(hou)熟(shu)。覆土(tu)深度約1厘米(mi),上(shang)覆塑(su)(su)料(liao)膜(mo)保(bao)墑(di),出苗(miao)(miao)后(hou)掀去塑(su)(su)料(liao)膜(mo),及時撒施(shi)一層(ceng)(ceng)疏松肥土(tu),苗(miao)(miao)期(qi)加強肥水管理(li),當年(nian)晚秋(qiu)(qiu)便可(ke)移栽(zai)。
以播種繁(fan)殖的實(shi)生(sheng)(sheng)苗(miao)為砧木,進(jin)行(xing)枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)接(jie)(jie)(jie)或芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)(jie)。進(jin)行(xing)枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)接(jie)(jie)(jie)或芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)(jie)。春季樹液流動發(fa)芽(ya)(ya)進(jin)行(xing)枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)接(jie)(jie)(jie),秋季(7月~9月間)可以芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)(jie)。枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)接(jie)(jie)(jie)可用切接(jie)(jie)(jie)、劈接(jie)(jie)(jie)等法(fa)。接(jie)(jie)(jie)穗選(xuan)取(qu)發(fa)育充實(shi)的1年生(sheng)(sheng)枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)條,取(qu)其中段(有2個以上飽滿(man)的芽(ya)(ya)),接(jie)(jie)(jie)后(hou)(hou)上細土蓋住接(jie)(jie)(jie)穗,芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)(jie)多用“T”字接(jie)(jie)(jie)法(fa),接(jie)(jie)(jie)后(hou)(hou)10天左右(you),凡芽(ya)(ya)新(xin)鮮,葉柄一角即(ji)落者為接(jie)(jie)(jie)活之證明,數日后(hou)(hou)即(ji)可去除扎(zha)縛物(wu)。當(dang)苗(miao)高80厘米~100厘米時,養成骨(gu)干枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),嗣后(hou)(hou)只(zhi)修剪過密(mi)枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、內向枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、重疊枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、保持圓整樹冠。
為常見栽培的果樹(shu)(shu)及觀賞樹(shu)(shu)。樹(shu)(shu)姿直立,花(hua)(hua)朵密集。果味酸甜,可(ke)供鮮(xian)食及加工用(yong)。栽培品種很多,果實形(xing)狀(zhuang)、大小、顏(yan)色和成熟(shu)期(qi)均有(you)(you)差(cha)別,所以有(you)(you)熱花(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、冷花(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、鐵(tie)花(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、紫(zi)海(hai)棠、紅(hong)(hong)(hong)海(hai)棠、老海(hai)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、八楞海(hai)棠等名稱(cheng)。華北有(you)(you)些地(di)區用(yong)作(zuo)蘋果或花(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)的砧木,生長(chang)良好,比山(shan)荊子(zi)抗(kang)旱(han)力強。
西(xi)府海(hai)(hai)棠在海(hai)(hai)棠花(hua)類中(zhong)樹態峭立,似亭亭少(shao)女(nv)。花(hua)紅(hong),葉(xie)綠(lv),果美(mei),不(bu)論孤植(zhi)、列植(zhi)、叢(cong)植(zhi)均(jun)極美(mei)觀。花(hua)色(se)艷麗,一般多栽培于庭(ting)(ting)園供綠(lv)化用(yong)。西(xi)府海(hai)(hai)棠在海(hai)(hai)棠花(hua)類中(zhong)樹態峭立,似亭亭少(shao)女(nv)。花(hua)朵(duo)紅(hong)粉相間(jian),葉(xie)子嫩綠(lv)可愛,果實鮮美(mei)誘人,不(bu)論孤植(zhi)、列植(zhi)、叢(cong)植(zhi)均(jun)極為美(mei)觀。最宜(yi)植(zhi)于水(shui)濱及(ji)小庭(ting)(ting)一隅。
郭稹海棠詩中(zhong)“朱欄明媚照黃塘,芳樹交加(jia)枕短墻。”就是(shi)最生動形象的寫照。新式庭園中(zhong),以濃綠針葉(xie)樹為(wei)(wei)背(bei)景,植(zhi)海棠于前列,則(ze)其色(se)彩(cai)尤覺奪目,若列植(zhi)為(wei)(wei)花籬,鮮花怒放,蔚(yu)為(wei)(wei)壯(zhuang)觀。
海(hai)(hai)(hai)棠(tang)花開(kai)嬌(jiao)艷(yan)(yan)動人(ren),但一般(ban)的海(hai)(hai)(hai)棠(tang)花無香味,只(zhi)有西府(fu)海(hai)(hai)(hai)棠(tang)既香且艷(yan)(yan),是海(hai)(hai)(hai)棠(tang)中(zhong)的上品。其花未開(kai)時,花蕾紅(hong)艷(yan)(yan),似(si)胭脂點(dian)點(dian),開(kai)后則漸變粉紅(hong),有如(ru)曉天明霞。
北(bei)京故宮御花(hua)園(yuan)和頤和園(yuan)中就植有(you)西府(fu)海棠,每到(dao)春夏之(zhi)交,迎風(feng)峭立,花(hua)姿(zi)明媚動(dong)人(ren),楚楚有(you)致,與玉(yu)蘭、牡丹(dan)、桂花(hua)相伴,形(xing)成“玉(yu)棠富貴”的之(zhi)意。 ?
果實(shi)稱為海棠果,味(wei)形(xing)皆似山楂,酸(suan)甜可口,可鮮食或制(zhi)作蜜(mi)餞。
將青刺果(guo)葉與車前(qian)草、海棠果(guo)一同煨服,有(you)(you)消(xiao)炎(yan)、清涼、解毒作(zuo)(zuo)用。人畜誤(wu)食中毒,用青刺果(guo)葉搗碎擠出(chu)汁液服用,可排(pai)毒解毒。青刺果(guo)嫩葉作(zuo)(zuo)為蔬菜或腌(a)制(zhi)成咸菜食用,有(you)(you)開(kai)胃消(xiao)食、清熱去(qu)火、抑制(zhi)口腔(qiang)及腸道(dao)炎(yan)癥等較好的治療作(zuo)(zuo)用。
用青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)果(guo)(guo)(guo)實、葉煮水洗腳,可(ke)預防和治療腳氣病(bing)。青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)仁(ren)可(ke)用于榨油(you)(you),經常食用青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)油(you)(you),可(ke)降低血脂,調節(jie)血壓,促進微循環,增強機體的(de)抵抗(kang)力(li),使人延(yan)年益壽。青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)油(you)(you)還廣泛用于治療皮(pi)膚(fu)燒(shao)傷、皮(pi)膚(fu)潰爛(lan)等。對(dui)青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)油(you)(you)的(de)脂肪酸組成(cheng)分析較多,而(er)對(dui)青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)仁(ren)、葉中(zhong)的(de)元素分析未見報道。