耐(nai)旱性(xing)頗佳(jia)的(de)黃梔花,生長適溫范圍為(wei)22~28℃,適合(he)于(yu)高溫濕潤和日照充足、排水良好的(de)環境,植地(di)的(de)土(tu)壤以稍帶粘性(xing)的(de)壤土(tu)為(wei)佳(jia)。
山黃(huang)梔,灌木,高0.3-3米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);嫩枝常(chang)被短(duan)毛,枝圓(yuan)柱形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),灰色(se)(se)(se)。葉(xie)(xie)對生,革質,稀為紙(zhi)質,少為3枚輪生,葉(xie)(xie)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)多樣,通常(chang)為長(chang)(chang)(chang)圓(yuan)狀披針(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、倒(dao)卵狀長(chang)(chang)(chang)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、倒(dao)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)3-25厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬1.5-8厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),頂(ding)端漸尖(jian)(jian)、驟然長(chang)(chang)(chang)漸尖(jian)(jian)或(huo)(huo)(huo)短(duan)尖(jian)(jian)而(er)鈍,基部楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)短(duan)尖(jian)(jian),兩面(mian)常(chang)無毛,上(shang)面(mian)亮(liang)綠,下面(mian)色(se)(se)(se)較暗;側脈8-15對,在下面(mian)凸起(qi),在上(shang)面(mian)平(ping);葉(xie)(xie)柄長(chang)(chang)(chang)0.2-1厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);托(tuo)葉(xie)(xie)膜質。花(hua)(hua)芳香,通常(chang)單朵生于枝頂(ding),花(hua)(hua)梗長(chang)(chang)(chang)3-5毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);萼管(guan)倒(dao)圓(yuan)錐形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)8-25毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),有(you)縱(zong)(zong)棱,萼檐管(guan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),膨大,頂(ding)部5-8裂,通常(chang)6裂,裂片(pian)(pian)披針(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)線狀披針(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)10-30毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬1-4毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),結果(guo)(guo)時增長(chang)(chang)(chang),宿(su)存(cun);花(hua)(hua)冠白色(se)(se)(se)或(huo)(huo)(huo)乳(ru)黃(huang)色(se)(se)(se),高腳碟(die)狀,喉部有(you)疏柔毛,冠管(guan)狹圓(yuan)筒(tong)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)3-5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬4-6毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),頂(ding)部5至8裂,通常(chang)6裂,裂片(pian)(pian)廣展,倒(dao)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)倒(dao)卵狀長(chang)(chang)(chang)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)1.5-4厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬0.6-2.8厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);花(hua)(hua)絲極短(duan),花(hua)(hua)藥線形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)1.5-2.2厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),伸出;花(hua)(hua)柱粗厚,長(chang)(chang)(chang)約(yue)4.5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),柱頭(tou)紡錘形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),伸出,長(chang)(chang)(chang)1-1.5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬3-7毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),子房直徑約(yue)3毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),黃(huang)色(se)(se)(se),平(ping)滑。果(guo)(guo)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、近球形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)長(chang)(chang)(chang)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),黃(huang)色(se)(se)(se)或(huo)(huo)(huo)橙(cheng)紅色(se)(se)(se),長(chang)(chang)(chang)1.5-7厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),直徑1.2-2厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),有(you)翅狀縱(zong)(zong)棱5-9條,頂(ding)部的宿(su)存(cun)萼片(pian)(pian)長(chang)(chang)(chang)達4厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬達6毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);種子多數,扁,近圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)而(er)稍有(you)棱角,長(chang)(chang)(chang)約(yue)3.5毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬約(yue)3毫(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。花(hua)(hua)期(qi)3-7月,果(guo)(guo)期(qi)5月至翌年2月。
本性強韌的(de)(de)(de)黃(huang)梔花(hua)發根力強,一(yi)般(ban)的(de)(de)(de)繁殖系以扦插(cha)法(fa)為主,亦可(ke)用播種法(fa)及壓(ya)條法(fa)繁殖。扦插(cha)法(fa)得在(zai)3~4月(yue)(yue)(yue)的(de)(de)(de)春季(ji)或9月(yue)(yue)(yue)的(de)(de)(de)初秋(qiu)季(ji)節(jie)行(xing)之(zhi),擇(ze)選長約20公(gong)分(fen)(fen)、直(zhi)徑約1公(gong)分(fen)(fen),生長良好枝丫,斜(xie)插(cha)于(yu)花(hua)床并經妥善遮護(hu),約經一(yi)個(ge)月(yue)(yue)(yue)便(bian)可(ke)發根,俟扦插(cha)成活后翌年即可(ke)移植本圃;播種法(fa)往往于(yu)9、10月(yue)(yue)(yue)為之(zhi),雖可(ke)獲得較多量(liang)的(de)(de)(de)子代,但因(yin)需等2、3年方會開(kai)花(hua),以致除了育種、采種之(zhi)外(wai)不(bu)常(chang)使(shi)用;壓(ya)條法(fa)則適合于(yu)春季(ji)俾有較高的(de)(de)(de)成活率,1至(zhi)2年后植株就(jiu)可(ke)長出茂盛娉婷(ting)的(de)(de)(de)花(hua)朵,花(hua)期完后宜(yi)修剪過于(yu)叢密雜亂或枯萎(wei)零弱(ruo)的(de)(de)(de)枝條,并于(yu)秋(qiu)、冬(dong)季(ji)節(jie)施行(xing)追肥和進行(xing)換土,以便(bian)促進翌年的(de)(de)(de)蓬發興茂。
黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)花(hua)是(shi)屬(shu)于茜(qian)草科(Rubiaceae)、黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)子(zi)(zi)屬(shu)(Gardenia)的常(chang)綠(lv)性(xing)灌(guan)木(mu)或(huo)小喬木(mu),別名有(you)梔(zhi)(zhi)子(zi)(zi)花(hua)、黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)子(zi)(zi)、雀舌花(hua)以及(ji)林蘭、木(mu)單(dan)、鮮支、越桃…等,種類繁(fan)多,近約百(bai)種,在我國計有(you)7種,山(shan)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)則為其中(zhong)(zhong)的一種。山(shan)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)的株干高約2至4公尺,分布華南(nan)、中(zhong)(zhong)南(nan)半島、日(ri)本(ben)和(he)臺灣(wan),于全(quan)臺灣(wan)低(di)海拔山(shan)區(qu)的向陽山(shan)坡(po)或(huo)闊葉(xie)樹林中(zhong)(zhong)均常(chang)見(jian)到野生之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi),另于公園(yuan)(yuan)、庭(ting)(ting)園(yuan)(yuan)及(ji)校園(yuan)(yuan)亦常(chang)見(jian)到以人工栽植(zhi)者,并適合作為盆(pen)栽、盆(pen)景及(ji)綠(lv)籬、庭(ting)(ting)園(yuan)(yuan)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)露(lu)天栽培。黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)樹在我國古時即被視作是(shi)高經濟性(xing)植(zhi)株,其花(hua)果根葉(xie)俱有(you)用途,司馬遷(qian)著之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)《史記》貨(huo)殖列傳(chuan)中(zhong)(zhong)曾載有(you)「…千畝梔(zhi)(zhi)茜(qian),其人與千戶(hu)侯等…」之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)語句,不難(nan)想知(zhi)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)樹確屬(shu)價值匪淺之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)作物(wu)。現今臺灣(wan)地(di)(di)區(qu)的黃(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)(zhi)花(hua)盛產(chan)地(di)(di)系以桃園(yuan)(yuan)縣之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)坡(po)地(di)(di)和(he)彰化(hua)縣田尾鄉為主,主要是(shi)作為造(zao)(zao)園(yuan)(yuan)、造(zao)(zao)景與推動公共工程時美化(hua)環境之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)用。
山黃(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)的(de)(de)葉片呈對生(sheng)狀,為(wei)橢圓形或長橢圓形,先端銳尖(jian),兩面光滑(hua),近于無柄,托葉基部(bu)合生(sheng)成(cheng)(cheng)鞘筒狀;于仲春至初夏的(de)(de)3~6月(yue)時段開花(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)為(wei)傘(san)型花(hua)(hua)序,花(hua)(hua)形系(xi)呈單(dan)瓣(ban)之貌(mao),乃自細(xi)小的(de)(de)枝(zhi)椏(ya)開出白(bai)色(se)(se)花(hua)(hua)朵,為(wei)3~4朵腋生(sheng)或頂生(sheng),花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)則(ze)有6枚,單(dan)瓣(ban),清(qing)香(xiang)撲鼻,曬(shai)干后尚可(ke)(ke)當作(zuo)花(hua)(hua)茶香(xiang)料(liao),故頗受園藝界之喜愛(ai),花(hua)(hua)謝時漸轉為(wei)乳黃(huang)(huang)色(se)(se),為(wei)中(zhong)國典型香(xiang)花(hua)(hua)植物之一;秋、冬(dong)時可(ke)(ke)結成(cheng)(cheng)長橢圓形的(de)(de)漿(jiang)果(guo),果(guo)有五棱(leng),果(guo)皮(pi)成(cheng)(cheng)熟后呈橘黃(huang)(huang)色(se)(se),常吸引白(bai)耳畫眉(mei)、綠(lv)繡眼、繡眼畫眉(mei)和(he)白(bai)頭翁等鳥類前來啄(zhuo)食(shi),果(guo)實含黃(huang)(huang)色(se)(se)素(crocin),因(yin)得作(zuo)為(wei)黃(huang)(huang)色(se)(se)染料(liao)遂被取(qu)名「黃(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)」,且可(ke)(ke)加(jia)工制成(cheng)(cheng)食(shi)用色(se)(se)素,也可(ke)(ke)供作(zuo)藥材。山黃(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)的(de)(de)花(hua)(hua)香(xiang)味,實乃因(yin)其蘊涵(han)的(de)(de)benzyl-acetate、linalool-acetate與anthranylic-methylester…等精油成(cheng)(cheng)分散發出來的(de)(de)。邇來,以(yi)香(xiang)花(hua)(hua)植物的(de)(de)花(hua)(hua)卉制作(zuo)成(cheng)(cheng)花(hua)(hua)茶、花(hua)(hua)水(shui)備供酌飲浸泡之自然療法甚告風行,而黃(huang)(huang)梔(zhi)花(hua)(hua)正是業者(zhe)極愛(ai)選用的(de)(de)香(xiang)花(hua)(hua)植物之一。