多年生草本,高50-200厘米(mi)(mi)。莖上部(bu)有分(fen)(fen)枝,無毛(mao)或稍(shao)(shao)有短(duan)糙毛(mao)。葉互生,無毛(mao)或被(bei)疏(shu)短(duan)毛(mao)。下部(bu)葉具(ju)(ju)葉柄,不分(fen)(fen)裂(lie)或羽狀5-7深(shen)(shen)裂(lie),裂(lie)片(pian)(pian)(pian)長(chang)圓(yuan)(yuan)狀披針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),頂(ding)(ding)端(duan)(duan)尖(jian),邊緣(yuan)(yuan)具(ju)(ju)不等的疏(shu)鋸齒(chi)或淺裂(lie);中部(bu)葉3-5深(shen)(shen)裂(lie),上部(bu)葉不分(fen)(fen)裂(lie),卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),頂(ding)(ding)端(duan)(duan)尖(jian),全.緣(yuan)(yuan)或有少數粗齒(chi),背面邊緣(yuan)(yuan)被(bei)短(duan)糙毛(mao)。頭狀花(hua)序單生于枝端(duan)(duan),具(ju)(ju)長(chang)花(hua)序梗,徑7-12厘米(mi)(mi)。總苞(bao)半球形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing);總苞(bao)片(pian)(pian)(pian)2層,長(chang)圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)7-10毫米(mi)(mi),上端(duan)(duan)尖(jian),稍(shao)(shao)彎(wan)曲,被(bei)短(duan)毛(mao)。花(hua)托球形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing);托片(pian)(pian)(pian)頂(ding)(ding)端(duan)(duan)截(jie)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),被(bei)毛(mao),與瘦(shou)果等長(chang)。舌狀花(hua)金黃色;舌片(pian)(pian)(pian)倒披針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)約(yue)為總苞(bao)片(pian)(pian)(pian)的2倍(bei),頂(ding)(ding)端(duan)(duan)具(ju)(ju)2短(duan)齒(chi);管狀花(hua)黃色或黃綠色。瘦(shou)果無毛(mao),壓扁,稍(shao)(shao)有4棱,長(chang)約(yue)5-6毫米(mi)(mi),頂(ding)(ding)端(duan)(duan)有具(ju)(ju)4齒(chi)的小冠。花(hua)期7-10月。
性喜(xi)通風良好,陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)充足(zu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)環(huan)境。對陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)敏(min)感性也(ye)不(bu)(bu)強。適應性強,耐(nai)寒(han)又耐(nai)旱。對土壤要求不(bu)(bu)嚴(yan),但忌水濕。在排水良好、疏(shu)松的(de)(de)(de)(de)沙質土中(zhong)生長良。雖說是草本植物(wu),但又具有木本植物(wu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)特性,莖桿(gan)堅硬不(bu)(bu)易倒(dao)伏,還具有抗(kang)(kang)病、抗(kang)(kang)蟲等特性。因而(er),極易栽培(pei),同時它(ta)對陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)敏(min)感性也(ye)不(bu)(bu)強,無論在陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)充足(zu)地帶,還是在陽(yang)(yang)光(guang)較弱的(de)(de)(de)(de)環(huan)境下栽培(pei),都不(bu)(bu)影響(xiang)花的(de)(de)(de)(de)鮮艷效果。
原產北美,是(shi)一(yi)種美麗(li)的觀(guan)賞(shang)植物,我國各地庭園常見栽培。
多采用(yong)分株(zhu)及(ji)播種繁殖。
春(chun)(chun)季和秋(qiu)(qiu)(qiu)季都可進行。春(chun)(chun)天以剛萌(meng)芽,秋(qiu)(qiu)(qiu)天于花后分(fen)株(zhu)(zhu)較(jiao)合適。直接將萌(meng)孽(nie)苗與母株(zhu)(zhu)挖切后分(fen)栽,或將地(di)下(xia)宿根挖出(chu)后分(fen)株(zhu)(zhu),分(fen)株(zhu)(zhu)時每(mei)棵子(zi)株(zhu)(zhu)需(xu)要帶有3-4個頂芽。南(nan)方以秋(qiu)(qiu)(qiu)季10-11月(yue)分(fen)株(zhu)(zhu)為(wei)好(hao),北方寒地(di)一般在春(chun)(chun)季3-4月(yue)分(fen)株(zhu)(zhu)。
播(bo)(bo)(bo)種(zhong)在春(chun)、秋季(ji)均可(ke),種(zhong)子發芽力(li)可(ke)保持(chi)約2年。南方可(ke)露(lu)地(di)苗(miao)(miao)床播(bo)(bo)(bo)種(zhong);北方秋季(ji)露(lu)地(di)播(bo)(bo)(bo)種(zhong),春(chun)季(ji)在溫(wen)室或拱棚內(nei)育(yu)苗(miao)(miao)。用肥沃沙(sha)質(zhi)土(tu)作播(bo)(bo)(bo)種(zhong)床土(tu),將床土(tu)裝人育(yu)苗(miao)(miao)盤內(nei),刮(gua)平,澆底水后(hou),種(zhong)子混細沙(sha)撒(sa)播(bo)(bo)(bo),每(mei)平方米苗(miao)(miao)床播(bo)(bo)(bo)種(zhong)5-6克。播(bo)(bo)(bo)后(hou)覆(fu)土(tu),在適宜(yi)溫(wen)度下(xia),5-7天出苗(miao)(miao),長到2-3對真葉時(shi),可(ke)移苗(miao)(miao)培育(yu)。終(zhong)霜后(hou)可(ke)定植露(lu)地(di)。
金光菊株型較大,盛花(hua)(hua)(hua)期花(hua)(hua)(hua)朵繁多,且開花(hua)(hua)(hua)觀(guan)賞期長(chang)、落葉期短,能形成(cheng)長(chang)達(da)半年之久,因而適合公園、機關、學校、庭院等場所布置(zhi),亦可(ke)做花(hua)(hua)(hua)壇,花(hua)(hua)(hua)境材料(liao),也(ye)(ye)是切(qie)花(hua)(hua)(hua)、瓶插之精品,此外也(ye)(ye)可(ke)布置(zhi)草坪(ping)邊(bian)緣成(cheng)自然(ran)式(shi)栽(zai)植。
金(jin)光菊的(de)葉具(ju)有(you)清熱解毒作用。化學(xue)成(cheng)分(fen)含(han)有(you)柔毛(mao)含(han)光菊素和15-乙(yi)酰(xian)氧(yang)基(ji)柔毛(mao)含(han)光菊素,實驗(yan)室中(zhong)在體內對小鼠淋巴白血病P-388具(ju)有(you)抑制活性。用于濕熱蘊結(jie)于胃(wei)腸之(zhi)腹痛、泄瀉(xie)、里(li)急后重(zhong)諸(zhu)證(zheng)。味苦,性寒(han)。入胃(wei)、大腸二經。該物種(zhong)為中(zhong)國植物圖譜數據庫收(shou)錄的(de)有(you)毒植物,其毒性為全草有(you)毒,對牲畜中(zhong)毒癥狀為食(shi)欲減退、呆滯(zhi)、排泄增加、視(shi)覺障礙。重(zhong)要服(fu)用為內服(fu):煎湯,9-12克。