常綠木質藤本,長(chang)達10米(mi),具乳汁;莖赤褐(he)色,圓(yuan)(yuan)柱形(xing),有皮(pi)孔;小枝被黃(huang)色柔(rou)毛(mao),老時漸無(wu)毛(mao)。葉革質或(huo)近革質,橢圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)至卵狀(zhuang)橢圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)或(huo)寬倒卵形(xing),長(chang)2-10厘米(mi),寬1-4.5厘米(mi),頂端銳尖(jian)至漸尖(jian)或(huo)鈍,有時微凹(ao)(ao)或(huo)有小凸(tu)(tu)尖(jian),基(ji)部(bu)漸狹至鈍,葉面無(wu)毛(mao),葉背(bei)被疏(shu)短(duan)柔(rou)毛(mao),老漸無(wu)毛(mao);葉面中脈微凹(ao)(ao),側脈扁平(ping),葉背(bei)中脈凸(tu)(tu)起(qi),側脈每邊(bian)6-12條,扁平(ping)或(huo)稍凸(tu)(tu)起(qi);葉柄(bing)短(duan),被短(duan)柔(rou)毛(mao),老漸無(wu)毛(mao);葉柄(bing)內和(he)葉腋外(wai)腺(xian)體鉆形(xing),長(chang)約1毫米(mi)。
二歧聚傘花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)序腋生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)或頂(ding)(ding)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)多(duo)朵組(zu)(zu)成圓(yuan)(yuan)錐狀(zhuang),與葉(xie)等長或較長;花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)白色,芳香(xiang);總花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)梗長2-5厘米(mi),被(bei)柔(rou)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),老(lao)時漸(jian)無(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao);苞(bao)片(pian)(pian)及小苞(bao)片(pian)(pian)狹披針形(xing)(xing),長1-2毫(hao)米(mi);花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)萼(e)5深裂,裂片(pian)(pian)線狀(zhuang)披針形(xing)(xing),頂(ding)(ding)部(bu)反(fan)卷,長2-5毫(hao)米(mi),外面(mian)(mian)(mian)被(bei)有長柔(rou)毛(mao)(mao)(mao)及緣毛(mao)(mao)(mao),內(nei)(nei)面(mian)(mian)(mian)無(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),基部(bu)具(ju)10枚(mei)鱗片(pian)(pian)狀(zhuang)腺體(ti);花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)蕾頂(ding)(ding)端鈍(dun),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠(guan)筒圓(yuan)(yuan)筒形(xing)(xing),中部(bu)膨大,外面(mian)(mian)(mian)無(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),內(nei)(nei)面(mian)(mian)(mian)在喉部(bu)及雄(xiong)(xiong)蕊著生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)處被(bei)短柔(rou)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),長5-10毫(hao)米(mi),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠(guan)裂片(pian)(pian)長5-10毫(hao)米(mi),無(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao);雄(xiong)(xiong)蕊著生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)在花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠(guan)筒中部(bu),腹(fu)部(bu)粘生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)在柱(zhu)頭上,花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)藥(yao)箭頭狀(zhuang),基部(bu)具(ju)耳(er),隱藏在花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)喉內(nei)(nei);花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)盤(pan)環狀(zhuang)5裂與子房(fang)等長;子房(fang)由(you)2個離(li)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)心皮組(zu)(zu)成,無(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)柱(zhu)圓(yuan)(yuan)柱(zhu)狀(zhuang),柱(zhu)頭卵圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)(xing),頂(ding)(ding)端全(quan)緣;每心皮有胚珠多(duo)顆,著生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于2個并生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的側膜(mo)胎座上。
蓇葖雙生,叉(cha)開(kai),無毛,線狀披針形(xing),向先端漸尖,長10-20厘米(mi)(mi),寬3-10毫米(mi)(mi);種子(zi)多顆(ke),褐(he)色,線形(xing),長1.5-2厘米(mi)(mi),直徑約2毫米(mi)(mi),頂(ding)端具白色絹質種毛;種毛長1.5-3厘米(mi)(mi)。花期3-7月(yue)(yue),果期7-12月(yue)(yue)。
絡石原產(chan)于中國黃河(he)流(liu)域(yu)以(yi)南(nan)(nan)(nan),南(nan)(nan)(nan)北各(ge)地均有栽(zai)培。對氣侯(hou)的適應性強,能耐(nai)(nai)寒冷,亦耐(nai)(nai)暑熱,但忌嚴寒。河(he)南(nan)(nan)(nan)北部以(yi)至華(hua)北地區露地不(bu)能越(yue)冬,只宜作盆栽(zai),冬季移入(ru)室內。華(hua)南(nan)(nan)(nan)可在露地安全越(yue)夏。喜濕(shi)潤環境,忌干風吹(chui)襲。
喜弱(ruo)光,亦(yi)耐烈(lie)日高溫(wen)。攀附墻壁,陽(yang)面及陰(yin)面均可。對土(tu)(tu)壤的要求不苛,一般(ban)肥力中(zhong)等的輕粘(zhan)土(tu)(tu)及沙壤土(tu)(tu)均宜,酸性土(tu)(tu)及堿性土(tu)(tu)均可生長,較耐干旱(han),但忌水濕(shi),盆(pen)栽不宜澆水過多,保持土(tu)(tu)壤潤濕(shi)即可。
生(sheng)于(yu)(yu)(yu)山(shan)野(ye)、溪邊、路旁、林緣或(huo)雜木林中(zhong),常纏繞于(yu)(yu)(yu)樹上或(huo)攀援于(yu)(yu)(yu)墻壁上、巖石上,亦有移栽于(yu)(yu)(yu)園圃。
本(ben)種分(fen)布很廣(guang),山東(dong)、安(an)徽、江(jiang)(jiang)蘇、浙江(jiang)(jiang)、福建、臺灣、江(jiang)(jiang)西(xi)、河(he)北、河(he)南、湖(hu)北、湖(hu)南、廣(guang)東(dong)、廣(guang)西(xi)、云南、貴州(zhou)、四川、陜西(xi)等省區都有(you)分(fen)布。日本(ben)、朝鮮和越南也有(you)。
絡(luo)石的(de)(de)繁殖,首選方法是(shi)壓條(tiao),特別是(shi)在梅(mei)(mei)雨季節(jie)其嫩莖極(ji)易長氣(qi)根,利(li)用(yong)這一(yi)特性(xing),將其嫩莖采用(yong)連續壓條(tiao)法,秋季從中間(jian)剪斷,可(ke)獲得大量的(de)(de)幼苗(miao)(miao)。或是(shi)于(yu)梅(mei)(mei)雨季節(jie),剪取(qu)長有氣(qi)根的(de)(de)嫩莖,插入素土中,置半陰(yin)處,成活率很(hen)高,但(dan)老莖扦(qian)插成活率低。盆(pen)栽絡(luo)石花后(hou)一(yi)般(ban)不(bu)結(jie)籽(zi),地栽絡(luo)石花后(hou)可(ke)結(jie)圓(yuan)柱狀的(de)(de)果,1 0月成熟(shu)收(shou)取(qu)后(hou),翌(yi)春播種,但(dan)播種苗(miao)(miao)要三四年后(hou)才(cai)開花,而壓條(tiao)、扦(qian)插苗(miao)(miao)翌(yi)年便可(ke)開花,故一(yi)般(ban)不(bu)用(yong)播種法。
盆栽除采用一般方法外(wai),還可利用其自身的(de)特性作懸(xuan)吊或攀(pan)緣栽植。利用氣生(sheng)根作攀(pan)緣栽植時,可先(xian)在盆中放棕皮(pi)柱(zhu)或形態(tai)較(jiao)好(hao)的(de)枯樹干(gan),扎成亭、塔、花籃等造型型。養(yang)護上也很簡單,澆水保持土壤(rang)濕(shi)潤,并(bing)經常向棕皮(pi)柱(zhu)或支架上噴水增(zeng)加濕(shi)度(du)。在生(sheng)長期,第月(yue)施1-2次肥水,并(bing)應(ying)避(bi)免(mian)烈日直(zhi)射(she),以半陰或朋亮的(de)散射(she)光(guang)照射(she)為(wei)佳。繁殖在生(sheng)長季用扦插或壓(ya)條法都容易成活。
絡石在(zai)園林中(zhong)多作(zuo)地被,或(huo)盆栽(zai)觀(guan)賞,為芳香花卉(hui)。供觀(guan)賞。
夾(jia)竹(zhu)桃(tao)科常綠(lv)藤本(ben)植物,喜(xi)陽,耐踐踏,耐旱,耐熱耐水(shui)淹,具有一定的(de)耐寒力。絡石(shi)匍匐性(xing)攀爬性(xing)較強,可(ke)搭配作色帶色塊綠(lv)化用。
在園林中(zhong)多作地被,或盆(pen)栽觀賞(shang),為(wei)芳香花卉。
根(gen)、莖、葉、果實供(gong)藥(yao)用(yong),有(you)祛風活絡、利關節、止(zhi)血、止(zhi)痛(tong)消腫(zhong)、清熱解(jie)毒之效能,我國民間有(you)用(yong)來治關節炎、肌肉(rou)痹痛(tong)、跌(die)打損傷、產后(hou)腹痛(tong)等;安(an)徽地區(qu)有(you)用(yong)作治血吸蟲(chong)腹水病。乳(ru)汁(zhi)有(you)毒,對心(xin)臟有(you)毒害作用(yong)。莖皮纖(xian)維拉力強,可(ke)制繩索、造紙(zhi)及人造棉。花芳香,可(ke)提取“絡石(shi)浸膏”。絡石(shi)是(shi)一種常用(yong)中(zhong)藥(yao),其始載(zai)本(ben)草為《神(shen)農(nong)本(ben)草經》。