小喬木,高達2.5-5米(mi)(mi)(mi),樹枝(zhi)直立性強;小枝(zhi)細弱圓柱形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),嫩時被(bei)(bei)短(duan)柔毛(mao)(mao)(mao),老時脫(tuo)落(luo),紫紅色(se)(se)或(huo)(huo)暗褐色(se)(se),具(ju)稀疏皮孔;冬芽卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端(duan)急尖(jian)(jian),無毛(mao)(mao)(mao)或(huo)(huo)僅邊(bian)緣(yuan)有(you)(you)絨(rong)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),暗紫色(se)(se)。葉片長(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)橢圓形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)5-10厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬2.5-5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),先(xian)端(duan)急尖(jian)(jian)或(huo)(huo)漸尖(jian)(jian),基部(bu)楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)稀近(jin)(jin)圓形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),邊(bian)緣(yuan)有(you)(you)尖(jian)(jian)銳鋸齒(chi),嫩葉被(bei)(bei)短(duan)柔毛(mao)(mao)(mao),下面(mian)較(jiao)密,老時脫(tuo)落(luo);葉柄長(chang)(chang)(chang)2-3.5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi);托葉膜質,線狀披針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端(duan)漸尖(jian)(jian),邊(bian)緣(yuan)有(you)(you)疏生腺齒(chi),近(jin)(jin)于無毛(mao)(mao)(mao),早落(luo)。傘形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)總狀花(hua)序,有(you)(you)花(hua)4-7朵(duo),集(ji)生于小枝(zhi)頂端(duan),花(hua)梗(geng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)2-3厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),嫩時被(bei)(bei)長(chang)(chang)(chang)柔毛(mao)(mao)(mao),逐漸脫(tuo)落(luo);苞(bao)片膜質,線狀披針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),早落(luo);花(hua)直徑(jing)約4厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi);萼(e)筒外(wai)面(mian)密被(bei)(bei)白色(se)(se)長(chang)(chang)(chang)絨(rong)毛(mao)(mao)(mao);萼(e)片三角(jiao)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),三角(jiao)披針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)至(zhi)長(chang)(chang)(chang)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端(duan)急尖(jian)(jian)或(huo)(huo)漸尖(jian)(jian),全緣(yuan),長(chang)(chang)(chang)5-8毫米(mi)(mi)(mi),內面(mian)被(bei)(bei)白色(se)(se)絨(rong)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),外(wai)面(mian)較(jiao)稀疏,萼(e)片與萼(e)筒等長(chang)(chang)(chang)或(huo)(huo)稍長(chang)(chang)(chang);花(hua)瓣近(jin)(jin)圓形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)長(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)約1.5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),基部(bu)有(you)(you)短(duan)爪,粉紅色(se)(se);雄蕊約20,花(hua)絲(si)長(chang)(chang)(chang)短(duan)不(bu)等,比花(hua)瓣稍短(duan);花(hua)柱5,基部(bu)具(ju)絨(rong)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),約與雄蕊等長(chang)(chang)(chang)。果實(shi)近(jin)(jin)球形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),直徑(jing)1-1.5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),紅色(se)(se),萼(e)洼梗(geng)洼均(jun)下陷,萼(e)片多(duo)數脫(tuo)落(luo),少(shao)數宿存(cun)。花(hua)期4-5月,果期8-9月。
喜(xi)光,耐寒,忌水澇,忌空氣過濕,較(jiao)耐干旱。
產遼寧、河北、山西、山東、陜西、甘肅、云(yun)南。海拔100-2400米。
海棠通常以嫁(jia)(jia)接或分株繁殖,亦可(ke)用播種、壓條及根插等方法繁殖。用嫁(jia)(jia)接所得(de)苗木,開花可(ke)以提早,而且能(neng)保持原有優良特性(xing)。
實(shi)生(sheng)苗雖生(sheng)長較慢,但常(chang)(chang)產生(sheng)變異,故為獲得大量(liang)砧木(mu)(mu)或(huo)雜(za)交育種時,仍采(cai)用(yong)播種法。中國北方常(chang)(chang)用(yong)的(de)砧木(mu)(mu)種類有山定子(zi)(zi)、西府海(hai)棠(tang)、裂葉(xie)海(hai)棠(tang)果等;南(nan)方則用(yong)湖(hu)北海(hai)棠(tang)。海(hai)棠(tang)種子(zi)(zi)在播種前,必須(xu)經過30天(tian)~100天(tian)低溫(wen)層(ceng)(ceng)積(ji)處理。充分層(ceng)(ceng)積(ji)的(de)種子(zi)(zi),出苗快(kuai)、整齊,而(er)且出苗率高;不層(ceng)(ceng)積(ji)的(de)種子(zi)(zi)不能(neng)發芽,或(huo)極少(shao)發芽。也可在秋(qiu)(qiu)季采(cai)果、去肉、稍晾后(hou)即播種在沙床(chuang)上(shang),讓種子(zi)(zi)自然(ran)后(hou)熟。覆(fu)土(tu)深(shen)度約1厘米,上(shang)覆(fu)塑料(liao)膜保墑,出苗后(hou)掀去塑料(liao)膜,及時撒施一層(ceng)(ceng)疏松(song)肥土(tu),苗期加強肥水管理,當年晚(wan)秋(qiu)(qiu)便可移栽。
以播種繁(fan)殖的實(shi)生(sheng)苗為砧木,進行(xing)枝(zhi)接(jie)(jie)或芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)。進行(xing)枝(zhi)接(jie)(jie)或芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)。春季樹(shu)液流動發芽(ya)(ya)進行(xing)枝(zhi)接(jie)(jie),秋季(7月~9月間)可以芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)。枝(zhi)接(jie)(jie)可用(yong)切接(jie)(jie)、劈(pi)接(jie)(jie)等(deng)法。接(jie)(jie)穗(sui)選(xuan)取發育(yu)充實(shi)的1年生(sheng)枝(zhi)條,取其(qi)中(zhong)段(duan)(有2個(ge)以上(shang)飽滿的芽(ya)(ya)),接(jie)(jie)后(hou)上(shang)細(xi)土(tu)蓋住接(jie)(jie)穗(sui),芽(ya)(ya)接(jie)(jie)多用(yong)“T”字(zi)接(jie)(jie)法,接(jie)(jie)后(hou)10天左(zuo)右,凡(fan)芽(ya)(ya)新鮮,葉柄一角即落(luo)者為接(jie)(jie)活之證明(ming),數日后(hou)即可去(qu)除(chu)扎縛(fu)物(wu)。當苗高80厘米(mi)~100厘米(mi)時,養成(cheng)骨干枝(zhi),嗣后(hou)只修剪過密枝(zhi)、內(nei)向(xiang)枝(zhi)、重(zhong)疊枝(zhi)、保(bao)持圓整樹(shu)冠(guan)。
為常見栽培的果(guo)樹及觀賞樹。樹姿直(zhi)立,花(hua)(hua)(hua)朵密集。果(guo)味酸甜,可供鮮食及加工(gong)用。栽培品(pin)種(zhong)很多,果(guo)實形狀、大小、顏色和成熟期均有差別(bie),所以有熱花(hua)(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、冷花(hua)(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、鐵花(hua)(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、紫(zi)海(hai)(hai)棠、紅(hong)(hong)(hong)海(hai)(hai)棠、老海(hai)(hai)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、八楞(leng)海(hai)(hai)棠等(deng)名稱。華(hua)北有些地區用作蘋(pin)果(guo)或花(hua)(hua)(hua)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)的砧木,生長良好,比(bi)山荊子抗旱(han)力(li)強。
西府海(hai)(hai)棠(tang)(tang)在(zai)海(hai)(hai)棠(tang)(tang)花(hua)類中樹(shu)態(tai)峭(qiao)立,似(si)亭亭少(shao)女。花(hua)紅,葉(xie)綠,果美,不(bu)論(lun)孤植、列植、叢植均(jun)極美觀。花(hua)色艷(yan)麗,一(yi)(yi)般多栽培于庭園供綠化(hua)用。西府海(hai)(hai)棠(tang)(tang)在(zai)海(hai)(hai)棠(tang)(tang)花(hua)類中樹(shu)態(tai)峭(qiao)立,似(si)亭亭少(shao)女。花(hua)朵紅粉相間,葉(xie)子嫩綠可愛(ai),果實(shi)鮮(xian)美誘(you)人,不(bu)論(lun)孤植、列植、叢植均(jun)極為美觀。最(zui)宜(yi)植于水濱及小庭一(yi)(yi)隅。
郭稹海(hai)棠(tang)詩中(zhong)“朱(zhu)欄明媚照黃(huang)塘,芳樹(shu)交(jiao)加枕短(duan)墻。”就是最生動形象的寫照。新式庭園中(zhong),以濃綠針葉樹(shu)為(wei)背景,植海(hai)棠(tang)于前列(lie),則其色彩尤(you)覺(jue)奪(duo)目,若列(lie)植為(wei)花籬,鮮花怒(nu)放(fang),蔚為(wei)壯觀。
海棠(tang)花開嬌艷動人,但一般(ban)的(de)海棠(tang)花無香味(wei),只(zhi)有西府海棠(tang)既香且艷,是海棠(tang)中的(de)上品。其花未開時,花蕾紅艷,似胭脂點點,開后則漸變粉紅,有如曉天(tian)明(ming)霞。
北京(jing)故宮御花園(yuan)和(he)頤和(he)園(yuan)中就植有西府海棠,每到春夏之交,迎風峭立,花姿明媚動(dong)人,楚楚有致,與玉(yu)蘭、牡丹、桂花相伴(ban),形(xing)成“玉(yu)棠富貴”的之意。 ?
果實稱為海棠果,味形(xing)皆似山楂,酸甜可(ke)口,可(ke)鮮食或制(zhi)作蜜餞。
將青(qing)刺(ci)果(guo)葉(xie)與車(che)前草、海(hai)棠(tang)果(guo)一同煨(wei)服(fu),有(you)(you)消(xiao)(xiao)炎(yan)、清涼(liang)、解(jie)毒作用。人畜誤食(shi)中毒,用青(qing)刺(ci)果(guo)葉(xie)搗(dao)碎擠出汁(zhi)液服(fu)用,可排(pai)毒解(jie)毒。青(qing)刺(ci)果(guo)嫩葉(xie)作為(wei)蔬菜或腌制成咸(xian)菜食(shi)用,有(you)(you)開胃(wei)消(xiao)(xiao)食(shi)、清熱(re)去(qu)火、抑制口(kou)腔及腸道炎(yan)癥(zheng)等較好(hao)的治療作用。
用(yong)青刺(ci)(ci)果果實(shi)、葉煮水洗腳(jiao),可預(yu)防和治(zhi)療腳(jiao)氣病。青刺(ci)(ci)果仁可用(yong)于榨油,經常(chang)食用(yong)青刺(ci)(ci)果油,可降(jiang)低血脂(zhi),調節血壓,促(cu)進微循環,增強機體的抵(di)抗力,使人延年(nian)益(yi)壽。青刺(ci)(ci)果油還廣泛用(yong)于治(zhi)療皮膚(fu)燒傷(shang)、皮膚(fu)潰爛等。對青刺(ci)(ci)果油的脂(zhi)肪酸組成分析較(jiao)多,而(er)對青刺(ci)(ci)果仁、葉中的元素(su)分析未見報道。