落葉(xie)(xie)灌木,高達2米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),枝(zhi)條直立(li)開展(zhan)(zhan),有(you)(you)刺;小枝(zhi)圓(yuan)柱(zhu)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),微屈(qu)曲,無(wu)(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),紫褐(he)(he)色(se)(se)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)黑褐(he)(he)色(se)(se),有(you)(you)疏(shu)生(sheng)(sheng)淺褐(he)(he)色(se)(se)皮孔;冬芽三角卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),先(xian)端(duan)急(ji)尖(jian)(jian),近(jin)于無(wu)(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)在鱗片(pian)邊(bian)緣(yuan)具短(duan)(duan)柔毛(mao)(mao)(mao),紫褐(he)(he)色(se)(se)。葉(xie)(xie)片(pian)卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)至橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),稀(xi)長(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)3-9厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)1.5-5厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),先(xian)端(duan)急(ji)尖(jian)(jian)稀(xi)圓(yuan)鈍,基部楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)至寬(kuan)楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),邊(bian)緣(yuan)具有(you)(you)尖(jian)(jian)銳鋸齒(chi),齒(chi)尖(jian)(jian)開展(zhan)(zhan),無(wu)(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)在萌蘗上沿下面葉(xie)(xie)脈有(you)(you)短(duan)(duan)柔毛(mao)(mao)(mao);葉(xie)(xie)柄長(chang)(chang)(chang)約1厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);托(tuo)葉(xie)(xie)大形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),草質(zhi),腎形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)半(ban)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),稀(xi)卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)5-10毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)12-20毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),邊(bian)緣(yuan)有(you)(you)尖(jian)(jian)銳重鋸齒(chi),無(wu)(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao)。花(hua)(hua)先(xian)葉(xie)(xie)開放(fang),3-5朵簇(cu)生(sheng)(sheng)于二年(nian)生(sheng)(sheng)老枝(zhi)上;花(hua)(hua)梗(geng)短(duan)(duan)粗,長(chang)(chang)(chang)約3毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)近(jin)于無(wu)(wu)柄;花(hua)(hua)直徑3-5厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);萼(e)筒鐘狀,外面無(wu)(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao);萼(e)片(pian)直立(li),半(ban)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)稀(xi)卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)3-4毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。寬(kuan)4-5毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),長(chang)(chang)(chang)約萼(e)筒之(zhi)(zhi)半(ban),先(xian)端(duan)圓(yuan)鈍,全緣(yuan)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)有(you)(you)波狀齒(chi),及(ji)黃(huang)褐(he)(he)色(se)(se)睫毛(mao)(mao)(mao);花(hua)(hua)瓣倒卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)近(jin)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),基部延伸成短(duan)(duan)爪,長(chang)(chang)(chang)10-15毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)8-13毫(hao)(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),猩紅(hong)色(se)(se),稀(xi)淡(dan)紅(hong)色(se)(se)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)白色(se)(se);雄蕊(rui)45-50,長(chang)(chang)(chang)約花(hua)(hua)瓣之(zhi)(zhi)半(ban);花(hua)(hua)柱(zhu)5,基部合(he)生(sheng)(sheng),無(wu)(wu)毛(mao)(mao)(mao)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)稍(shao)有(you)(you)毛(mao)(mao)(mao),柱(zhu)頭頭狀,有(you)(you)不顯明分裂(lie),約與雄蕊(rui)等(deng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)。果實球(qiu)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)卵(luan)(luan)球(qiu)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),直徑4-6厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),黃(huang)色(se)(se)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)帶黃(huang)綠色(se)(se),有(you)(you)稀(xi)疏(shu)不顯明斑點(dian),味芳香;萼(e)片(pian)脫(tuo)落,果梗(geng)短(duan)(duan)或(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)(huo)近(jin)于無(wu)(wu)梗(geng)。花(hua)(hua)期(qi)3-5月(yue),果期(qi)9-10月(yue)。
溫(wen)帶樹種(zhong)。適應性(xing)強,喜光(guang),也耐半陰,耐寒(han),耐旱。對土壤(rang)要(yao)求不嚴(yan),在肥沃、排水良好的黏土、壤(rang)土中均可正常生長,忌(ji)低洼和鹽堿地。
產陜西、甘肅(su)、四川(chuan)、貴州、云(yun)南、廣東。緬甸(dian)亦有(you)分布。
木(mu)瓜樹(shu)需(xu)要(yao)防(fang)治的(de)主(zhu)要(yao)病(bing)害(hai)(hai)(hai)是(shi)葉(xie)枯病(bing),對葉(xie)子的(de)危害(hai)(hai)(hai)為主(zhu),有多(duo)角形黑褐色病(bing)斑出現在(zai)受害(hai)(hai)(hai)葉(xie)片(pian)上。凡是(shi)在(zai)綠葉(xie)期(qi)間都可發生這一病(bing)害(hai)(hai)(hai),而尤其嚴重的(de)在(zai)7~8月。防(fang)治措施包括把枯枝落葉(xie)清(qing)除并集中燒掉;以(yi)1:1:100倍的(de)波爾(er)多(duo)液噴霧(wu)于葉(xie)子上。另一病(bing)害(hai)(hai)(hai)就是(shi)蟲(chong)害(hai)(hai)(hai)。這些害(hai)(hai)(hai)蟲(chong)主(zhu)要(yao)是(shi)天牛、蚜(ya)蟲(chong),蛀食樹(shu)干、葉(xie)等等,防(fang)治可用樂果(guo)劑(ji)1500倍液施行(xing)。
早(zao)春先(xian)花(hua)后葉(xie),很(hen)美(mei)麗。枝(zhi)密多刺可作綠蘺。
公園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)、庭院(yuan)、校(xiao)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)、廣場等道(dao)路兩(liang)側(ce)可(ke)(ke)(ke)栽植(zhi)皺(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)皮(pi)木(mu)(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)樹(shu),亭亭玉立,花果(guo)繁茂,燦(can)若云錦,清(qing)香(xiang)四溢,效果(guo)甚佳。皺(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)皮(pi)木(mu)(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)作(zuo)為獨(du)特孤植(zhi)觀賞樹(shu)或(huo)(huo)三五成叢的(de)(de)點(dian)綴于園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)林小(xiao)品或(huo)(huo)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)林綠地中(zhong),也可(ke)(ke)(ke)培育成獨(du)干或(huo)(huo)多(duo)干的(de)(de)喬灌木(mu)(mu)(mu)作(zuo)片林或(huo)(huo)庭院(yuan)點(dian)綴;春季觀花夏(xia)秋賞果(guo),淡雅俏秀(xiu),多(duo)姿多(duo)彩,使人百看不厭,取悅其中(zhong)。皺(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)皮(pi)木(mu)(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)可(ke)(ke)(ke)制作(zuo)多(duo)種造型的(de)(de)盆(pen)景(jing),被稱為盆(pen)景(jing)中(zhong)的(de)(de)十八學士之一。皺(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)皮(pi)木(mu)(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)盆(pen)景(jing)可(ke)(ke)(ke)置于廳堂、花臺、門廊角隅(yu)、休閑場地,可(ke)(ke)(ke)與(yu)建筑合理搭(da)配,使庭園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)勝(sheng)景(jing)倍添風采,被點(dian)綴得更加幽(you)雅清(qing)秀(xiu)。
據(ju)化驗分析,皺皮木瓜(gua)優良品種含(han)(han)蛋白質0.45%、脂肪0.57%、粗纖維(wei)2.11%、可溶性固形物8.8%、果膠9.5%、有(you)機(ji)酸(suan)3.22%,每100g鮮果中(zhong)含(han)(han)鈣24.79mg、磷6.04mg、鐵4.53mg、維(wei)生素(su)C 96.8mg、維(wei)生素(su)A 6.35μg。此外,還含(han)(han)有(you)17種氨基酸(suan),氨基酸(suan)總含(han)(han)量達(da)529m/100g。皺皮木瓜(gua)最突(tu)出(chu)的特點是(shi)含(han)(han)有(you)豐富的齊墩果酸(suan)等(deng)有(you)機(ji)酸(suan),加工(gong)產(chan)品不需添加防腐劑(ji)、檸檬(meng)酸(suan)、香精、色素(su),是(shi)風味獨(du)特的純(chun)天(tian)然綠色食(shi)品。
果實含(han)蘋果酸(suan)、酒石酸(suan)、構椽酸(suan)及丙種維生(sheng)素等(deng),干制后(hou)入藥(yao),有驅鳳、舒(shu)筋、活絡、鎮痛、消腫、順氣(qi)之效。
據上海藥物(wu)研(yan)究(jiu)所(suo)等(deng)(deng)單位聯合測定,皺(zhou)皮木(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)中含有(you)增強人(ren)體免疫(yi)功能、具(ju)(ju)廣譜殺菌作用(yong)的(de)(de)齊墩果酸,對傷寒、痢疾(ji)桿菌和金色葡(pu)萄球菌等(deng)(deng)都有(you)較強的(de)(de)抑(yi)制(zhi)作用(yong)。此外,民間還流傳著(zhu)很多用(yong)皺(zhou)皮木(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)健身治病(bing)的(de)(de)土方、驗方,如加蜜糖(tang)煮食用(yong),可順氣(qi)、活血、壯筋骨;皺(zhou)皮木(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)煎湯服(fu),用(yong)于產(chan)婦催奶;老年(nian)人(ren)用(yong)皺(zhou)皮木(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)枝干作手杖,可舒筋活絡,延年(nian)益壽。另(ling)外,皺(zhou)皮木(mu)(mu)瓜(gua)對腰(yao)腿酸痛(tong)麻木(mu)(mu),腓(fei)腸(chang)肌(ji)痙攣,四肢(zhi)抽(chou)搐,風濕性關(guan)節炎等(deng)(deng)病(bing)癥具(ju)(ju)良好的(de)(de)功效。