四(si)齒芥喜生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于田(tian)埂,平原、山(shan)坡(po)洼地(di),對(dui)土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)要(yao)求(qiu)不嚴,能(neng)(neng)在壤(rang)(rang)、砂,礫石,荒漠(mo)(mo)或戈壁生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長,對(dui)水(shui)(shui)分要(yao)求(qiu)較(jiao)高,八能(neng)(neng)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長在水(shui)(shui)分充足的(de)(de)地(di)方,干旱(han)則不能(neng)(neng)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長發育。水(shui)(shui)分充足,生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長發育很快,它能(neng)(neng)充分利用早春的(de)(de)融雪或降水(shui)(shui)萌發生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長并很快開花結實,在很短的(de)(de)時間內完(wan)成生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)命周期,是早春短命型小(xiao)雜類草(cao)(cao)。在新疆準噶(ga)爾盆地(di)西南部沙(sha)漠(mo)(mo)邊緣弱鹽化地(di),烏(wu)倫古(gu)河以(yi)南的(de)(de)沙(sha)漠(mo)(mo)邊緣以(yi)梭梭(Haloxylonammodendron)為建群種(zhong)的(de)(de)草(cao)(cao)地(di)中,四(si)齒芥與叉毛蓬(peng)(peng)(Petrosimoniasibirica),刺蓬(peng)(peng)(Salsolapestifer),一(yi)年生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)雜類草(cao)(cao)為伴生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)種(zhong),在天山(shan)北部坡(po)地(di)洪積扇的(de)(de)壤(rang)(rang)土(tu)(tu)和(he)沙(sha)壤(rang)(rang)土(tu)(tu)上,與胎生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)早熟(shu)禾(Poabulbosa),角(jiao)果藜(Ceratocarpusutriculosus)共同組(zu)成一(yi)年生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)短命或類短命植(zhi)物層片,出(chu)現在以(yi)博樂蒿(Artemisiaborotalensis)為建群種(zhong)的(de)(de)群落(luo)中。
產(chan)新疆(奇臺、呼(hu)圖壁(bi)、瑪納(na)斯(si)、阿(a)(a)勒泰、富蘊(yun)、烏帕)。生于(yu)干旱荒漠、沙(sha)丘、礫質(zhi)戈(ge)壁(bi)灘(tan)、山坡礫石灘(tan)、田邊。蘇聯、巴(ba)基斯(si)坦、阿(a)(a)富汗、伊(yi)朗也有分布。模式標本采(cai)自蘇聯。
花(hua)序(xu)總狀(zhuang),花(hua)多數,微小;萼片寬卵形(xing),長約1毫(hao)米,邊緣白(bai)色膜質(zhi),背(bei)(bei)面具毛(mao);花(hua)瓣白(bai)色,寬楔(xie)形(xing),較萼片小。長角(jiao)果(guo)(guo)(guo)圓柱狀(zhuang)至四棱形(xing),長6-8毫(hao)米,頂端具4角(jiao)狀(zhuang)附屬物,長1-2毫(hao)米,直向開展,果(guo)(guo)(guo)實上部微開展或(huo)向外彎曲,或(huo)直立(li)而緊(jin)貼果(guo)(guo)(guo)軸;果(guo)(guo)(guo)梗短(duan)粗。種子細(xi)小,橢圓形(xing),淡褐色,無膜質(zhi)邊緣;子葉背(bei)(bei)倚(yi)胚(pei)根。花(hua)、果(guo)(guo)(guo)期(qi)5-7月。
四齒芥(jie)雖然植(zhi)(zhi)株矮小,生(sheng)長期短,但其返(fan)青早(zao),生(sheng)長快,能在早(zao)春(chun)提(ti)供一(yi)定數量(liang)(liang)的青綠(lv)飼(si)草,而且粗蛋白質(zhi)含量(liang)(liang)較(jiao)高,粗脂肪也(ye)豐富,對(dui)牲畜的早(zao)春(chun)恢(hui)復生(sheng)長發育(yu),提(ti)高母羊(yang)(yang)的泌(mi)乳量(liang)(liang)等(deng)(deng)有(you)—定作用(yong)。因此(ci),在開花前(qian),馬、牛、羊(yang)(yang)均采(cai)食(shi),羊(yang)(yang)喜食(shi)。開花后,由于(yu)植(zhi)(zhi)株內辛辣(la)味增加,適口性降低(di),牲畜一(yi)般不采(cai)食(shi),羊(yang)(yang)少量(liang)(liang)采(cai)食(shi)。為中等(deng)(deng)偏(pian)低(di)飼(si)用(yong)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)。