小(xiao)(xiao)喬木,高達2.5-5米(mi),樹枝直立性強;小(xiao)(xiao)枝細(xi)弱(ruo)圓(yuan)柱(zhu)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),嫩時被(bei)(bei)(bei)短(duan)(duan)(duan)柔(rou)毛(mao),老(lao)時脫落,紫紅色或(huo)暗褐色,具(ju)(ju)稀疏(shu)皮孔;冬芽卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),先端(duan)(duan)急(ji)尖(jian)(jian),無毛(mao)或(huo)僅(jin)邊緣(yuan)有(you)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao),暗紫色。葉片(pian)(pian)(pian)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)5-10厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),寬2.5-5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),先端(duan)(duan)急(ji)尖(jian)(jian)或(huo)漸尖(jian)(jian),基(ji)(ji)部(bu)楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)稀近(jin)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),邊緣(yuan)有(you)尖(jian)(jian)銳鋸齒,嫩葉被(bei)(bei)(bei)短(duan)(duan)(duan)柔(rou)毛(mao),下面較(jiao)密(mi),老(lao)時脫落;葉柄(bing)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)2-3.5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi);托葉膜質(zhi),線(xian)狀(zhuang)披針(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),先端(duan)(duan)漸尖(jian)(jian),邊緣(yuan)有(you)疏(shu)生(sheng)腺齒,近(jin)于無毛(mao),早(zao)落。傘(san)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)總狀(zhuang)花(hua)(hua)序,有(you)花(hua)(hua)4-7朵(duo),集生(sheng)于小(xiao)(xiao)枝頂(ding)端(duan)(duan),花(hua)(hua)梗(geng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)2-3厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),嫩時被(bei)(bei)(bei)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)柔(rou)毛(mao),逐漸脫落;苞片(pian)(pian)(pian)膜質(zhi),線(xian)狀(zhuang)披針(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),早(zao)落;花(hua)(hua)直徑約4厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi);萼筒外面密(mi)被(bei)(bei)(bei)白色長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao);萼片(pian)(pian)(pian)三角卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),三角披針(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)至長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),先端(duan)(duan)急(ji)尖(jian)(jian)或(huo)漸尖(jian)(jian),全緣(yuan),長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)5-8毫(hao)米(mi),內(nei)面被(bei)(bei)(bei)白色絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao),外面較(jiao)稀疏(shu),萼片(pian)(pian)(pian)與(yu)(yu)萼筒等長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)或(huo)稍(shao)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang);花(hua)(hua)瓣近(jin)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)約1.5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),基(ji)(ji)部(bu)有(you)短(duan)(duan)(duan)爪,粉紅色;雄(xiong)蕊約20,花(hua)(hua)絲(si)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)短(duan)(duan)(duan)不等,比花(hua)(hua)瓣稍(shao)短(duan)(duan)(duan);花(hua)(hua)柱(zhu)5,基(ji)(ji)部(bu)具(ju)(ju)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao),約與(yu)(yu)雄(xiong)蕊等長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)。果實(shi)近(jin)球形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),直徑1-1.5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi),紅色,萼洼(wa)梗(geng)洼(wa)均(jun)下陷,萼片(pian)(pian)(pian)多(duo)數脫落,少數宿存。花(hua)(hua)期4-5月(yue),果期8-9月(yue)。
喜光,耐寒,忌水澇,忌空氣過(guo)濕,較耐干旱。
產遼(liao)寧、河北、山西、山東、陜西、甘肅、云南。海拔100-2400米。
海棠通常以嫁接或分株繁殖,亦可(ke)用(yong)播種、壓條及根插(cha)等方法(fa)繁殖。用(yong)嫁接所得苗木(mu),開花可(ke)以提早,而且能保持原有優良特性。
實生(sheng)苗(miao)雖生(sheng)長較慢,但(dan)常(chang)(chang)產生(sheng)變異(yi),故為獲得大量砧木或(huo)雜交育種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)時,仍(reng)采用播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)法。中國北(bei)方常(chang)(chang)用的砧木種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)有山定子(zi)、西府(fu)海棠(tang)(tang)、裂葉海棠(tang)(tang)果等;南方則(ze)用湖北(bei)海棠(tang)(tang)。海棠(tang)(tang)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)在(zai)播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)前,必須經過30天~100天低(di)溫層(ceng)積(ji)(ji)處理。充(chong)分層(ceng)積(ji)(ji)的種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi),出(chu)苗(miao)快、整齊(qi),而(er)且出(chu)苗(miao)率高;不層(ceng)積(ji)(ji)的種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)不能發芽,或(huo)極少發芽。也可在(zai)秋(qiu)季(ji)采果、去肉、稍(shao)晾(liang)后(hou)即播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)在(zai)沙床(chuang)上,讓種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)自(zi)然后(hou)熟(shu)。覆土(tu)深度約1厘米,上覆塑料膜保墑,出(chu)苗(miao)后(hou)掀去塑料膜,及時撒施一層(ceng)疏松肥土(tu),苗(miao)期加強肥水(shui)管理,當年晚秋(qiu)便可移栽。
以(yi)播(bo)種繁殖的(de)實生苗(miao)為(wei)砧(zhen)木(mu),進行(xing)枝(zhi)(zhi)接(jie)(jie)(jie)或(huo)芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)(jie)。進行(xing)枝(zhi)(zhi)接(jie)(jie)(jie)或(huo)芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)(jie)。春季(ji)樹液流動發芽(ya)(ya)進行(xing)枝(zhi)(zhi)接(jie)(jie)(jie),秋季(ji)(7月~9月間)可(ke)以(yi)芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)(jie)。枝(zhi)(zhi)接(jie)(jie)(jie)可(ke)用(yong)切(qie)接(jie)(jie)(jie)、劈接(jie)(jie)(jie)等(deng)法。接(jie)(jie)(jie)穗(sui)選(xuan)取發育(yu)充實的(de)1年生枝(zhi)(zhi)條,取其中(zhong)段(有2個以(yi)上(shang)飽滿的(de)芽(ya)(ya)),接(jie)(jie)(jie)后(hou)(hou)上(shang)細土(tu)蓋住接(jie)(jie)(jie)穗(sui),芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)(jie)多用(yong)“T”字接(jie)(jie)(jie)法,接(jie)(jie)(jie)后(hou)(hou)10天(tian)左右,凡芽(ya)(ya)新鮮(xian),葉(xie)柄一角即落者為(wei)接(jie)(jie)(jie)活之證明,數日后(hou)(hou)即可(ke)去除扎縛物。當苗(miao)高80厘(li)米~100厘(li)米時(shi),養成骨干(gan)枝(zhi)(zhi),嗣后(hou)(hou)只修(xiu)剪(jian)過(guo)密枝(zhi)(zhi)、內向枝(zhi)(zhi)、重疊枝(zhi)(zhi)、保(bao)持圓(yuan)整樹冠。
為常見栽培的果樹(shu)及(ji)觀賞樹(shu)。樹(shu)姿直立,花朵密集。果味酸甜,可供(gong)鮮食及(ji)加工用。栽培品種很多,果實形(xing)狀、大小、顏(yan)色和成熟期均有差別,所(suo)以有熱花紅(hong)、冷(leng)花紅(hong)、鐵花紅(hong)、紫海(hai)棠(tang)、紅(hong)海(hai)棠(tang)、老海(hai)紅(hong)、八楞海(hai)棠(tang)等名稱。華北有些地區(qu)用作蘋果或(huo)花紅(hong)的砧木(mu),生長良(liang)好,比山荊子(zi)抗旱力強。
西府(fu)海(hai)(hai)(hai)(hai)棠在(zai)海(hai)(hai)(hai)(hai)棠花(hua)(hua)類(lei)中樹(shu)態峭立(li),似(si)亭(ting)亭(ting)少女。花(hua)(hua)紅(hong),葉(xie)綠(lv),果美,不論孤植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、列植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、叢(cong)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)均極(ji)美觀(guan)。花(hua)(hua)色艷(yan)麗,一般(ban)多(duo)栽培于庭園供綠(lv)化(hua)用。西府(fu)海(hai)(hai)(hai)(hai)棠在(zai)海(hai)(hai)(hai)(hai)棠花(hua)(hua)類(lei)中樹(shu)態峭立(li),似(si)亭(ting)亭(ting)少女。花(hua)(hua)朵紅(hong)粉相間(jian),葉(xie)子嫩綠(lv)可愛,果實鮮美誘人,不論孤植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、列植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、叢(cong)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)均極(ji)為美觀(guan)。最宜植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)于水濱及小庭一隅。
郭稹海棠(tang)(tang)詩中“朱欄明媚(mei)照黃塘,芳樹(shu)交(jiao)加枕(zhen)短墻。”就(jiu)是最生(sheng)動形象的(de)寫照。新式庭園中,以濃綠針葉(xie)樹(shu)為(wei)(wei)背(bei)景(jing),植海棠(tang)(tang)于前(qian)列,則其(qi)色彩尤覺(jue)奪目(mu),若(ruo)列植為(wei)(wei)花(hua)籬,鮮花(hua)怒放,蔚為(wei)(wei)壯(zhuang)觀。
海棠(tang)花開嬌艷動人,但一(yi)般(ban)的海棠(tang)花無(wu)香味,只(zhi)有(you)西府海棠(tang)既香且艷,是海棠(tang)中的上(shang)品。其(qi)花未開時,花蕾紅艷,似胭脂點點,開后則(ze)漸(jian)變粉紅,有(you)如曉天明(ming)霞。
北京(jing)故宮御(yu)花園和頤和園中就植有西府(fu)海(hai)棠,每到春夏之(zhi)交,迎風峭立(li),花姿(zi)明媚動人,楚楚有致,與(yu)玉蘭、牡丹、桂花相伴,形成“玉棠富(fu)貴”的之(zhi)意。 ?
果(guo)實稱(cheng)為海棠果(guo),味形皆(jie)似山(shan)楂,酸甜可口,可鮮食或制作蜜餞。
將青(qing)刺(ci)果(guo)葉(xie)與(yu)車前草、海棠果(guo)一同煨服,有消(xiao)炎、清(qing)涼(liang)、解(jie)毒(du)作用(yong)。人畜誤(wu)食(shi)中毒(du),用(yong)青(qing)刺(ci)果(guo)葉(xie)搗碎擠出(chu)汁液服用(yong),可(ke)排毒(du)解(jie)毒(du)。青(qing)刺(ci)果(guo)嫩(nen)葉(xie)作為(wei)蔬菜或(huo)腌制(zhi)成咸菜食(shi)用(yong),有開胃(wei)消(xiao)食(shi)、清(qing)熱去火、抑制(zhi)口腔及腸道炎癥等較(jiao)好的治療(liao)作用(yong)。
用青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)果(guo)(guo)實、葉煮水(shui)洗腳(jiao),可預(yu)防和治療(liao)腳(jiao)氣病。青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)仁(ren)可用于榨油,經(jing)常(chang)食(shi)用青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)油,可降低血(xue)脂,調節血(xue)壓,促進微循環,增強機體的抵抗力(li),使人延年益(yi)壽。青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)油還廣泛(fan)用于治療(liao)皮(pi)膚燒(shao)傷、皮(pi)膚潰爛等。對青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)油的脂肪酸(suan)組成(cheng)分析較多,而對青刺(ci)果(guo)(guo)仁(ren)、葉中的元素分析未(wei)見(jian)報道。