沙冬青能在惡劣的自然環(huan)境中(zhong)生(sheng)(sheng)長,具有較厚的角質層(ceng)、密實的表(biao)皮(pi)毛(mao),氣孔下陷,抗旱性、抗熱性強,耐(nai)(nai)寒、耐(nai)(nai)鹽、耐(nai)(nai)貧瘠(ji),保水性強,在極度缺水的狀(zhuang)況下仍能正常生(sheng)(sheng)長。常與(yu)檸條、霸(ba)王、沙蒿組成共(gong)建的群(qun)系,群(qun)系多呈(cheng)小片狀(zhuang)分布。其伴生(sheng)(sheng)植物是錦雞兒、檸條、貓頭(tou)刺,根瘤(liu)菌具有抗逆性,與(yu)沙冬青表(biao)現出相似性,這表(biao)明生(sheng)(sheng)態環(huan)境對豆科植物根瘤(liu)菌共(gong)生(sheng)(sheng)體(ti)有重要的影響(xiang)。
分布(bu)(bu)于中國內蒙古、寧(ning)夏(xia)、甘肅。生于沙(sha)丘、河(he)灘(tan)邊臺地,為(wei)良好的固(gu)沙(sha)植物。蒙古南部也有分布(bu)(bu)。模式標本采自內蒙古阿拉(la)善。
常綠灌木(mu),高1.5-2米(mi),粗壯;樹皮黃(huang)綠色(se)(se),木(mu)材(cai)褐色(se)(se)。莖多叉狀(zhuang)分枝,圓(yuan)(yuan)柱形(xing),具溝棱,幼(you)被(bei)灰白色(se)(se)短柔毛(mao),后漸稀疏。3小(xiao)葉(xie)(xie)(xie),偶為單葉(xie)(xie)(xie);葉(xie)(xie)(xie)柄長5-15毫(hao)米(mi),密被(bei)灰白色(se)(se)短柔毛(mao);托葉(xie)(xie)(xie)小(xiao),三(san)角形(xing)或三(san)角狀(zhuang)披針形(xing),貼生葉(xie)(xie)(xie)柄,被(bei)銀(yin)白色(se)(se)絨(rong)毛(mao);小(xiao)葉(xie)(xie)(xie)菱狀(zhuang)橢(tuo)圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)或闊披針形(xing),長2-3.5厘(li)米(mi),寬6-20毫(hao)米(mi),兩面(mian)密被(bei)銀(yin)白色(se)(se)絨(rong)毛(mao),全緣(yuan),側(ce)脈幾不明顯。
總狀花序頂生枝端,花互(hu)生,8-12朵(duo)密(mi)集(ji);苞片(pian)(pian)卵形(xing),長5-6毫(hao)米(mi),密(mi)被(bei)短柔毛(mao),脫落;花梗長約1厘(li)米(mi),近無(wu)毛(mao),中部(bu)有2枚小苞片(pian)(pian);萼(e)鐘(zhong)形(xing),薄革質,長5-7毫(hao)米(mi),萼(e)齒(chi)(chi)5,闊三角形(xing),上方(fang)2齒(chi)(chi)合生為一(yi)較大的齒(chi)(chi);花冠黃色,花瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)均具(ju)(ju)長瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)柄,旗(qi)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)倒卵形(xing),長約2厘(li)米(mi),翼瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)比龍骨瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)短,長圓形(xing),長1.7厘(li)米(mi),其中瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)柄長5毫(hao)米(mi),龍骨瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)分離,基部(bu)有長2毫(hao)米(mi)的耳(er);子房(fang)具(ju)(ju)柄,線(xian)形(xing),無(wu)毛(mao)。
莢果扁平,線形,長5-8厘(li)米,寬15-20毫米,無毛,先端銳尖,基部具果頸,果頸長8-10毫米;有種(zhong)子2-5粒(li)。種(zhong)子圓腎形,徑約6毫米。花期(qi)4-5月,果期(qi)5-6月。
松(song)土(tu)(tu)、除草(cao)、施肥、澆灌是幼林(lin)撫育的(de)主要(yao)管理(li)措施。松(song)土(tu)(tu)可(ke)有(you)(you)效地減少(shao)土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)及幼苗(miao)的(de)水(shui)(shui)(shui)分蒸發,提(ti)(ti)高土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)含水(shui)(shui)(shui)量,有(you)(you)效地改善了土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)的(de)透(tou)氣性和(he)吸(xi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)性,土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)會提(ti)(ti)高接納降(jiang)水(shui)(shui)(shui)的(de)能力,為(wei)微生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物的(de)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長創造了有(you)(you)利條件。除草(cao)有(you)(you)利于幼苗(miao)的(de)健(jian)康生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長,消(xiao)(xiao)除雜(za)草(cao)根(gen)(gen)系,為(wei)幼苗(miao)提(ti)(ti)供更多(duo)的(de)營養(yang)和(he)陽光(guang),消(xiao)(xiao)除爭水(shui)(shui)(shui)、爭肥的(de)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長威(wei)脅。松(song)土(tu)(tu)和(he)除草(cao)的(de)次數(shu)要(yao)根(gen)(gen)據(ju)(ju)林(lin)木(mu)(mu)(mu)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長的(de)快慢而定,努力增加林(lin)木(mu)(mu)(mu)營養(yang)面積,提(ti)(ti)高保土(tu)(tu)、保水(shui)(shui)(shui)效果(guo)。幼林(lin)撫育還要(yao)特別注(zhu)重施肥和(he)灌水(shui)(shui)(shui)的(de)管理(li),根(gen)(gen)據(ju)(ju)多(duo)年的(de)經驗和(he)實際數(shu)據(ju)(ju)證明,適(shi)當(dang)而充(chong)足(zu)的(de)施肥或灌水(shui)(shui)(shui),可(ke)以提(ti)(ti)高林(lin)木(mu)(mu)(mu)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長速度(du),降(jiang)低(di)樹木(mu)(mu)(mu)死亡率。
沙(sha)冬青采用容器(qi)育苗(miao)繁殖,首先要采好種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi),要選擇(ze)在(zai)合(he)適(shi)(shi)的時(shi)間取(qu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),并應(ying)選擇(ze)10-11年生的母(mu)樹采種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)要粒大(da)飽滿,這樣才能(neng)保證發(fa)芽(ya)(ya)(ya)率,且種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)吸水(shui)力較強,能(neng)夠(gou)快速發(fa)芽(ya)(ya)(ya),適(shi)(shi)于栽植。選好的種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)要先經過(guo)(guo)催(cui)(cui)芽(ya)(ya)(ya)處理(li),用水(shui)浸泡,大(da)約(yue)要2-3天(tian)(tian)時(shi)間,每天(tian)(tian)換水(shui)2次,這期間也要再次細心選種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),之后進行消毒(du)、催(cui)(cui)芽(ya)(ya)(ya)。催(cui)(cui)芽(ya)(ya)(ya)處理(li)要保證較高的濕(shi)度(du)與通氣條件,并不時(shi)的翻動種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi),防止發(fa)霉腐爛(lan),也能(neng)夠(gou)使(shi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)出(chu)(chu)芽(ya)(ya)(ya)整齊(qi)。溫(wen)度(du)保持在(zai)20-25℃的狀態下,5天(tian)(tian)左(zuo)右種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)即(ji)可露白約(yue)65%,此(ci)時(shi)就可進行播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。容器(qi)育苗(miao)比其(qi)它育苗(miao)方式更加優(you)越(yue),培育出(chu)(chu)的幼苗(miao)出(chu)(chu)苗(miao)整齊(qi)、均勻,而且減少了移(yi)植過(guo)(guo)程(cheng)(cheng)中對根(gen)部的損(sun)害和(he)破壞,造林(lin)成活率大(da)大(da)提高。值(zhi)得注意的是,在(zai)容器(qi)育苗(miao)過(guo)(guo)程(cheng)(cheng)中要特別加強水(shui)、肥的管理(li),控制好水(shui)量(liang),增加葉面噴肥。
沙冬青(qing)通常采用雨季(ji)直播(bo)(bo)造(zao)(zao)(zao)林(lin),播(bo)(bo)種前(qian)要(yao)對種子進(jin)行(xing)(xing)浸泡,以(yi)50℃-60℃的(de)(de)溫水(shui)浸泡24小(xiao)時為(wei)宜(yi),采用上述(shu)方法消毒。造(zao)(zao)(zao)林(lin)前(qian)要(yao)深(shen)整地,蓄水(shui)保墑,在土(tu)壤濕潤的(de)(de)條(tiao)件(jian)下,可在春季(ji)直播(bo)(bo),一(yi)般多在8-9月份(fen)雨季(ji)搶播(bo)(bo)。條(tiao)播(bo)(bo)造(zao)(zao)(zao)林(lin)時,每(mei)米(mi)(mi)播(bo)(bo)種溝以(yi)30-40粒(li)種子為(wei)宜(yi);穴(xue)播(bo)(bo)造(zao)(zao)(zao)林(lin)時,每(mei)穴(xue)以(yi)6-10粒(li)種子為(wei)宣;覆土(tu)厚度2厘米(mi)(mi)。播(bo)(bo)種后用草、鋸末等(deng)進(jin)行(xing)(xing)覆蓋(gai),以(yi)利(li)于土(tu)壤濕潤、減少(shao)蒸發。人工造(zao)(zao)(zao)林(lin)要(yao)放大株行(xing)(xing)距,依據(ju)天然沙冬青(qing)“單株成叢、小(xiao)片狀分布”的(de)(de)生(sheng)物學特性,株行(xing)(xing)距以(yi)4米(mi)(mi)×4米(mi)(mi)、5米(mi)(mi)×5米(mi)(mi)、6米(mi)(mi)×6米(mi)(mi)、7米(mi)(mi)×7米(mi)(mi)為(wei)宜(yi),以(yi)滿(man)足沙冬青(qing)成齡后對水(shui)分、養分、光照(zhao)條(tiao)件(jian)的(de)(de)需(xu)求(qiu)。
沙冬青(qing)能夠抗風(feng)沙,生(sheng)長季節茂密、碧綠(lv),由于沙冬青(qing)是北(bei)方常(chang)綠(lv)灌木,是良好的(de)(de)蜜源植物,更是人煙稀少(shao)的(de)(de)荒漠和難以管護的(de)(de)荒山禿嶺(ling)營造水(shui)土保持(chi)林的(de)(de)優良樹種。
沙(sha)冬青作為(wei)蒙(meng)藥之(zhi)一(yi),其葉子(zi)(zi)煮水服(fu)用(yong)可以治療(liao)肺病、咳(ke)嗽、咳(ke)痰、腹(fu)痛;枝(zhi)(zhi)葉入藥,能(neng)祛風、活血、止痛,外用(yong)主治凍瘡、慢性(xing)風濕(shi)性(xing)關節炎(yan)等。其葉和嫩枝(zhi)(zhi)含(han)有(you)多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)生物堿,性(xing)溫有(you)毒,牲畜少有(you)啃食(shi),可作為(wei)殺蟲劑。種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)富含(han)油脂,其脂肪酸組成中亞油酸含(han)量高達87.6%,在食(shi)品(pin)、化工、醫(yi)療(liao)保健方面有(you)很(hen)大的潛力。
沙冬(dong)青還可(ke)作為鐵路(lu)、公(gong)路(lu)和(he)高速(su)公(gong)路(lu)建設通過荒(huang)漠、半荒(huang)漠、荒(huang)漠草原(yuan)地帶(dai)的(de)護路(lu)樹(shu)種和(he)隔(ge)離帶(dai)樹(shu)種。同時,沙冬(dong)青也可(ke)作為城市綠化樹(shu)種或綠籬(li),一年四季長青,便于修(xiu)剪。