半(ban)灌木,莖直立,高50-200厘米(mi),粗6-20毫(hao)米(mi),多分枝,被短柔(rou)毛(mao)與(yu)腺毛(mao),老時(shi)漸(jian)變無(wu)毛(mao),幼枝帶(dai)紅(hong)色。葉(xie)對生,卵形(xing)(xing)或狹卵形(xing)(xing),長3-9厘米(mi),寬2.5-5厘米(mi),中部(bu)的較大,先(xian)端漸(jian)尖,基部(bu)淺(qian)心形(xing)(xing)或鈍圓,邊(bian)緣具遠離的淺(qian)齒或齒突(tu),脈(mo)常(chang)帶(dai)紅(hong)色,側脈(mo)6-11對,在近(jin)邊(bian)緣環結,兩面尤(you)下面脈(mo)上被短柔(rou)毛(mao);葉(xie)柄長2-3.5厘米(mi),常(chang)帶(dai)紅(hong)色,被短柔(rou)毛(mao)與(yu)腺毛(mao);托葉(xie)狹卵形(xing)(xing)至(zhi)鉆形(xing)(xing),長約(yue)1.5毫(hao)米(mi),早(zao)落(luo)。
花(hua)(hua)兩性(xing),單一,稀(xi)成(cheng)對生于(yu)莖枝頂葉(xie)腋,下垂;花(hua)(hua)梗纖細,淡(dan)綠(lv)(lv)色(se)(se)或帶紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se),長3-7厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);花(hua)(hua)管(guan)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se),筒狀(zhuang),上(shang)部較(jiao)大,長1-2厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),徑3-5毫(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),連(lian)同花(hua)(hua)梗疏被(bei)短(duan)柔毛與腺毛;萼片4,紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se),長圓(yuan)狀(zhuang)或三角狀(zhuang)披針形(xing),長2-3厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬4-8毫(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),先端漸狹(xia),開放時反折;花(hua)(hua)瓣色(se)(se)多變,紫紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se),紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se)、粉(fen)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)、白色(se)(se),排成(cheng)覆瓦狀(zhuang),寬倒(dao)(dao)(dao)卵形(xing),長1-2.2厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),先端微凹;雄蕊8,外輪的較(jiao)長,花(hua)(hua)絲紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se),伸(shen)出花(hua)(hua)管(guan)外的長1.8-3厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),花(hua)(hua)藥紫紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se),長圓(yuan)形(xing),長2-3毫(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),徑約1毫(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),花(hua)(hua)粉(fen)粉(fen)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se);子房倒(dao)(dao)(dao)卵狀(zhuang)長圓(yuan)形(xing),長5-6毫(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),徑3-4毫(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),疏被(bei)柔毛與腺毛,4室,每(mei)室有多數胚珠;花(hua)(hua)柱紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se),長4-5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),基部圍以綠(lv)(lv)色(se)(se)的淺(qian)杯狀(zhuang)花(hua)(hua)盤(pan);柱頭棍棒狀(zhuang),褐色(se)(se),長約3毫(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),徑約1.5毫(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),頂端4淺(qian)裂。果紫紅(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)(se),倒(dao)(dao)(dao)卵狀(zhuang)長圓(yuan)形(xing),長約1厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。花(hua)(hua)期4-12月。
原(yuan)(yuan)產(chan)于秘魯、智利、阿根廷、波利維(wei)亞(ya)、墨西哥等中南美洲國家(jia);中國廣為(wei)栽培,尤在北(bei)方(fang)或在西北(bei)、西南高原(yuan)(yuan)溫室種植生(sheng)長,已成為(wei)重(zhong)要的(de)花卉植物(wu)。
喜涼爽濕潤環境(jing),怕高溫(wen)(wen)和強(qiang)光,忌酷(ku)暑(shu)悶熱及(ji)雨淋日曬。以肥沃、疏松的微酸性土(tu)壤,且(qie)宜(yi)富(fu)含(han)腐殖質、排水良好。冬季(ji)要(yao)求溫(wen)(wen)暖濕潤、陽光充(chong)足、空氣流通;夏季(ji)要(yao)求干燥(zao)、涼爽及(ji)半(ban)陰條件,并保持一定的空氣濕度(du)。夏季(ji)溫(wen)(wen)度(du)達(da)30℃時(shi)(shi)生長極為緩慢,35℃ 時(shi)(shi)大批(pi)枯萎(wei)死(si)亡。冬季(ji)溫(wen)(wen)度(du)不(bu)低度(du)于5℃,弱低于5℃,則易受凍害。
倒掛金(jin)鐘花形奇特,極為(wei)雅致。盆栽用于裝飾陽臺(tai)、窗臺(tai)、書房等,也可吊掛于防盜網、廊架等處(chu)觀賞。
倒掛金鐘的(de)花語:相信愛情、熱烈(lie)的(de)心。