耐旱性頗佳的(de)黃(huang)梔(zhi)花,生長(chang)適(shi)溫(wen)(wen)范圍為22~28℃,適(shi)合于高(gao)溫(wen)(wen)濕(shi)潤和(he)日(ri)照充足、排水良好的(de)環境,植地的(de)土壤以稍帶粘性的(de)壤土為佳。
山(shan)黃(huang)梔,灌木,高0.3-3米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);嫩枝常(chang)被短(duan)毛(mao)(mao),枝圓(yuan)柱形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),灰色(se)(se)。葉(xie)(xie)(xie)對生(sheng),革質(zhi)(zhi),稀為(wei)(wei)(wei)紙質(zhi)(zhi),少為(wei)(wei)(wei)3枚(mei)輪生(sheng),葉(xie)(xie)(xie)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)多樣,通(tong)常(chang)為(wei)(wei)(wei)長(chang)(chang)(chang)圓(yuan)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)披(pi)針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、倒卵(luan)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、倒卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)3-25厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)1.5-8厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),頂(ding)端漸(jian)尖(jian)、驟然(ran)長(chang)(chang)(chang)漸(jian)尖(jian)或短(duan)尖(jian)而(er)鈍,基部楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或短(duan)尖(jian),兩面常(chang)無毛(mao)(mao),上面亮(liang)綠,下面色(se)(se)較暗(an);側(ce)脈8-15對,在下面凸起,在上面平(ping);葉(xie)(xie)(xie)柄(bing)長(chang)(chang)(chang)0.2-1厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);托葉(xie)(xie)(xie)膜質(zhi)(zhi)。花芳香,通(tong)常(chang)單朵生(sheng)于枝頂(ding),花梗長(chang)(chang)(chang)3-5毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);萼管(guan)倒圓(yuan)錐形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)8-25毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),有縱棱(leng),萼檐管(guan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),膨大(da),頂(ding)部5-8裂,通(tong)常(chang)6裂,裂片披(pi)針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或線狀(zhuang)(zhuang)披(pi)針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)10-30毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)1-4毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),結果(guo)時增長(chang)(chang)(chang),宿(su)存(cun);花冠白(bai)色(se)(se)或乳黃(huang)色(se)(se),高腳碟狀(zhuang)(zhuang),喉部有疏柔毛(mao)(mao),冠管(guan)狹圓(yuan)筒形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)3-5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)4-6毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),頂(ding)部5至8裂,通(tong)常(chang)6裂,裂片廣展,倒卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或倒卵(luan)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)1.5-4厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)0.6-2.8厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);花絲極短(duan),花藥線形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)1.5-2.2厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),伸出(chu);花柱粗厚,長(chang)(chang)(chang)約(yue)4.5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),柱頭紡(fang)錘(chui)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),伸出(chu),長(chang)(chang)(chang)1-1.5厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)3-7毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),子房直徑約(yue)3毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),黃(huang)色(se)(se),平(ping)滑。果(guo)卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、近球形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或長(chang)(chang)(chang)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),黃(huang)色(se)(se)或橙紅色(se)(se),長(chang)(chang)(chang)1.5-7厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),直徑1.2-2厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),有翅狀(zhuang)(zhuang)縱棱(leng)5-9條(tiao),頂(ding)部的宿(su)存(cun)萼片長(chang)(chang)(chang)達4厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)達6毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);種子多數,扁,近圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)而(er)稍有棱(leng)角,長(chang)(chang)(chang)約(yue)3.5毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)約(yue)3毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。花期3-7月,果(guo)期5月至翌年2月。
本性強韌(ren)的(de)黃(huang)梔(zhi)花(hua)發(fa)根力強,一般(ban)的(de)繁殖(zhi)系(xi)以扦插法為主,亦可(ke)(ke)用(yong)播種(zhong)法及壓(ya)條(tiao)(tiao)法繁殖(zhi)。扦插法得(de)(de)在3~4月(yue)的(de)春(chun)季(ji)(ji)或(huo)9月(yue)的(de)初秋季(ji)(ji)節行之,擇選長約(yue)20公分、直徑約(yue)1公分,生長良好枝(zhi)丫,斜(xie)插于花(hua)床(chuang)并經(jing)妥善(shan)遮護,約(yue)經(jing)一個(ge)月(yue)便(bian)(bian)可(ke)(ke)發(fa)根,俟扦插成活后翌年即可(ke)(ke)移植本圃;播種(zhong)法往往于9、10月(yue)為之,雖(sui)可(ke)(ke)獲(huo)得(de)(de)較(jiao)多量的(de)子代,但(dan)因需等2、3年方會開花(hua),以致除了育種(zhong)、采(cai)種(zhong)之外不常使用(yong);壓(ya)條(tiao)(tiao)法則適合于春(chun)季(ji)(ji)俾有較(jiao)高的(de)成活率,1至2年后植株就可(ke)(ke)長出茂(mao)盛(sheng)娉婷(ting)的(de)花(hua)朵,花(hua)期完后宜(yi)修剪過于叢密雜亂(luan)或(huo)枯萎零弱的(de)枝(zhi)條(tiao)(tiao),并于秋、冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)節施行追肥(fei)和進(jin)行換(huan)土,以便(bian)(bian)促進(jin)翌年的(de)蓬發(fa)興茂(mao)。
黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)花(hua)是(shi)(shi)屬于(yu)茜(qian)草科(Rubiaceae)、黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)子屬(Gardenia)的(de)(de)常綠(lv)(lv)性(xing)灌木或小喬木,別(bie)名有(you)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)子花(hua)、黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)子、雀舌花(hua)以及(ji)林蘭、木單、鮮支、越桃…等,種(zhong)類(lei)繁多,近約百種(zhong),在我(wo)國計有(you)7種(zhong),山(shan)(shan)(shan)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)則為其(qi)中的(de)(de)一種(zhong)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)株干(gan)高(gao)約2至4公尺,分布華南、中南半(ban)島、日本和(he)臺(tai)灣,于(yu)全臺(tai)灣低海拔山(shan)(shan)(shan)區(qu)的(de)(de)向陽山(shan)(shan)(shan)坡或闊葉樹林中均(jun)常見到野(ye)生之(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),另于(yu)公園(yuan)、庭(ting)園(yuan)及(ji)校園(yuan)亦常見到以人(ren)工栽(zai)植者,并適(shi)合作為盆(pen)栽(zai)、盆(pen)景(jing)及(ji)綠(lv)(lv)籬、庭(ting)園(yuan)之(zhi)露天栽(zai)培。黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)樹在我(wo)國古時即被視作是(shi)(shi)高(gao)經濟性(xing)植株,其(qi)花(hua)果(guo)根葉俱有(you)用途,司馬遷(qian)著之(zhi)《史記》貨殖列傳中曾(ceng)載有(you)「…千畝梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)茜(qian),其(qi)人(ren)與(yu)千戶侯(hou)等…」之(zhi)語句,不(bu)難想(xiang)知黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)樹確屬價值匪淺(qian)之(zhi)作物。現今(jin)臺(tai)灣地(di)區(qu)的(de)(de)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)花(hua)盛產(chan)地(di)系以桃園(yuan)縣之(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)坡地(di)和(he)彰(zhang)化縣田尾鄉為主(zhu),主(zhu)要是(shi)(shi)作為造園(yuan)、造景(jing)與(yu)推動公共工程(cheng)時美化環境之(zhi)用。
山(shan)黃(huang)梔(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)葉片(pian)呈(cheng)對生狀,為橢圓(yuan)形或長橢圓(yuan)形,先端銳尖(jian),兩面光(guang)滑,近于無柄,托葉基部合生成(cheng)(cheng)鞘(qiao)筒狀;于仲春至初(chu)夏的(de)(de)(de)3~6月時段開花(hua),花(hua)為傘型花(hua)序,花(hua)形系呈(cheng)單(dan)瓣之(zhi)貌,乃(nai)(nai)自細小的(de)(de)(de)枝椏開出白色(se)(se)(se)花(hua)朵,為3~4朵腋生或頂生,花(hua)瓣則(ze)有6枚(mei),單(dan)瓣,清香(xiang)撲鼻,曬(shai)干后尚(shang)可(ke)當作花(hua)茶香(xiang)料(liao),故(gu)頗受園藝(yi)界之(zhi)喜愛,花(hua)謝時漸轉為乳黃(huang)色(se)(se)(se),為中國典(dian)型香(xiang)花(hua)植物之(zhi)一;秋、冬時可(ke)結成(cheng)(cheng)長橢圓(yuan)形的(de)(de)(de)漿果(guo),果(guo)有五棱(leng),果(guo)皮成(cheng)(cheng)熟后呈(cheng)橘黃(huang)色(se)(se)(se),常吸引白耳畫(hua)眉、綠(lv)繡眼、繡眼畫(hua)眉和(he)白頭翁等鳥類前(qian)來啄食,果(guo)實含黃(huang)色(se)(se)(se)素(su)(crocin),因得(de)作為黃(huang)色(se)(se)(se)染料(liao)遂被取名「黃(huang)梔(zhi)」,且可(ke)加工(gong)制(zhi)成(cheng)(cheng)食用色(se)(se)(se)素(su),也可(ke)供(gong)作藥材。山(shan)黃(huang)梔(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)花(hua)香(xiang)味,實乃(nai)(nai)因其蘊涵的(de)(de)(de)benzyl-acetate、linalool-acetate與(yu)anthranylic-methylester…等精油(you)成(cheng)(cheng)分散發出來的(de)(de)(de)。邇來,以香(xiang)花(hua)植物的(de)(de)(de)花(hua)卉(hui)制(zhi)作成(cheng)(cheng)花(hua)茶、花(hua)水(shui)備供(gong)酌飲浸(jin)泡之(zhi)自然(ran)療法甚告風行,而黃(huang)梔(zhi)花(hua)正是(shi)業者極愛選(xuan)用的(de)(de)(de)香(xiang)花(hua)植物之(zhi)一。