金櫻子常綠攀援(yuan)灌木,高可(ke)達5米;小枝粗壯,散生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)扁彎皮刺,無毛(mao),小葉(xie)(xie)革質,通常3,稀5;小葉(xie)(xie)片橢(tuo)圓狀卵形(xing)(xing)、倒卵形(xing)(xing)或(huo)披針(zhen)狀卵形(xing)(xing),邊(bian)緣有銳鋸(ju)齒,上(shang)面(mian)亮綠色(se),無毛(mao),下面(mian)黃綠色(se);托(tuo)葉(xie)(xie)離(li)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)或(huo)基(ji)部與葉(xie)(xie)柄合(he)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),披針(zhen)形(xing)(xing),邊(bian)緣有細齒;花(hua)單(dan)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于(yu)葉(xie)(xie)腋,直徑(jing)5-7厘米;花(hua)瓣白色(se),寬倒卵形(xing)(xing),先端微(wei)凹(ao);果(guo)(guo)梨(li)形(xing)(xing)、倒卵形(xing)(xing),稀近(jin)球(qiu)形(xing)(xing),紫(zi)褐色(se),外(wai)面(mian)密(mi)被刺毛(mao);花(hua)期4-6月(yue),果(guo)(guo)期7-11月(yue);喜(xi)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于(yu)向陽的(de)山野、田邊(bian)、溪畔(pan)灌木叢中,海(hai)拔200-1600米,產中國(guo)多省區,根皮含鞣質可(ke)制(zhi)栲膠,果(guo)(guo)實可(ke)熬糖及釀酒,根、葉(xie)(xie)、果(guo)(guo)均入(ru)藥。