金櫻子(zi)常(chang)綠(lv)攀援灌木,高可(ke)(ke)達5米(mi);小(xiao)(xiao)枝粗壯(zhuang),散生扁彎皮刺,無毛(mao)(mao),小(xiao)(xiao)葉(xie)(xie)革質,通常(chang)3,稀5;小(xiao)(xiao)葉(xie)(xie)片橢(tuo)圓狀(zhuang)卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)、倒卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)或披針狀(zhuang)卵(luan)(luan)形(xing),邊(bian)緣有(you)銳鋸齒,上面(mian)(mian)亮綠(lv)色,無毛(mao)(mao),下面(mian)(mian)黃綠(lv)色;托葉(xie)(xie)離生或基部與葉(xie)(xie)柄合生,披針形(xing),邊(bian)緣有(you)細齒;花(hua)單生于葉(xie)(xie)腋,直(zhi)徑5-7厘米(mi);花(hua)瓣白色,寬倒卵(luan)(luan)形(xing),先端微凹;果(guo)梨(li)形(xing)、倒卵(luan)(luan)形(xing),稀近(jin)球形(xing),紫褐色,外面(mian)(mian)密被刺毛(mao)(mao);花(hua)期(qi)4-6月,果(guo)期(qi)7-11月;喜生于向(xiang)陽的山(shan)野、田(tian)邊(bian)、溪畔灌木叢中(zhong),海拔200-1600米(mi),產中(zhong)國多省區,根皮含鞣質可(ke)(ke)制栲膠,果(guo)實(shi)可(ke)(ke)熬糖及釀酒,根、葉(xie)(xie)、果(guo)均入(ru)藥。