沙(sha)冬(dong)青能在惡劣的(de)自然環境中生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長,具(ju)有較厚的(de)角質層、密實的(de)表皮毛,氣(qi)孔下(xia)陷,抗(kang)旱(han)性(xing)、抗(kang)熱性(xing)強,耐(nai)寒、耐(nai)鹽(yan)、耐(nai)貧(pin)瘠,保水性(xing)強,在極度缺水的(de)狀(zhuang)況下(xia)仍能正常生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長。常與檸條(tiao)(tiao)、霸王、沙(sha)蒿組成共建的(de)群系(xi),群系(xi)多呈小片(pian)狀(zhuang)分布。其伴(ban)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)植物是錦雞兒(er)、檸條(tiao)(tiao)、貓頭刺(ci),根瘤(liu)菌具(ju)有抗(kang)逆性(xing),與沙(sha)冬(dong)青表現(xian)出相似性(xing),這表明生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)態(tai)環境對豆科植物根瘤(liu)菌共生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)體有重(zhong)要的(de)影響。
分布于中國內(nei)蒙古(gu)、寧夏、甘肅。生于沙丘、河灘邊臺地,為良(liang)好的固(gu)沙植物。蒙古(gu)南部也有分布。模式(shi)標本(ben)采自內(nei)蒙古(gu)阿(a)拉善(shan)。
常綠(lv)灌(guan)木(mu),高1.5-2米(mi)(mi),粗壯;樹(shu)皮黃綠(lv)色(se),木(mu)材褐(he)色(se)。莖多叉狀分枝(zhi),圓柱形(xing),具溝棱(leng),幼(you)被(bei)灰白(bai)色(se)短柔毛(mao),后漸稀疏(shu)。3小(xiao)葉(xie),偶為單葉(xie);葉(xie)柄(bing)長5-15毫米(mi)(mi),密被(bei)灰白(bai)色(se)短柔毛(mao);托葉(xie)小(xiao),三(san)角(jiao)形(xing)或(huo)三(san)角(jiao)狀披針形(xing),貼生(sheng)葉(xie)柄(bing),被(bei)銀白(bai)色(se)絨毛(mao);小(xiao)葉(xie)菱(ling)狀橢(tuo)圓形(xing)或(huo)闊披針形(xing),長2-3.5厘米(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)6-20毫米(mi)(mi),兩面密被(bei)銀白(bai)色(se)絨毛(mao),全緣,側脈幾不明顯。
總狀花(hua)(hua)序(xu)頂(ding)生(sheng)枝(zhi)端,花(hua)(hua)互生(sheng),8-12朵密集;苞(bao)片卵形(xing)(xing),長5-6毫(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi),密被短柔毛(mao),脫落;花(hua)(hua)梗長約1厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),近無毛(mao),中(zhong)部有2枚小苞(bao)片;萼鐘形(xing)(xing),薄革質,長5-7毫(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi),萼齒5,闊(kuo)三角形(xing)(xing),上(shang)方2齒合生(sheng)為一(yi)較(jiao)大(da)的齒;花(hua)(hua)冠黃色(se),花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)均具長瓣(ban)柄(bing),旗瓣(ban)倒(dao)卵形(xing)(xing),長約2厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),翼瓣(ban)比龍骨瓣(ban)短,長圓形(xing)(xing),長1.7厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),其中(zhong)瓣(ban)柄(bing)長5毫(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi),龍骨瓣(ban)分(fen)離(li),基部有長2毫(hao)(hao)米(mi)(mi)(mi)的耳;子(zi)房具柄(bing),線(xian)形(xing)(xing),無毛(mao)。
莢(jia)果(guo)扁(bian)平,線形(xing),長5-8厘米,寬15-20毫(hao)米,無毛,先端銳尖,基部具果(guo)頸(jing),果(guo)頸(jing)長8-10毫(hao)米;有(you)種子2-5粒。種子圓腎形(xing),徑約(yue)6毫(hao)米。花(hua)期4-5月(yue),果(guo)期5-6月(yue)。
松土(tu)(tu)、除(chu)草、施(shi)肥(fei)、澆灌是幼林(lin)(lin)撫育的(de)(de)主要管(guan)(guan)理措施(shi)。松土(tu)(tu)可(ke)有效地減少土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)及幼苗(miao)的(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)分蒸發,提高土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)含水(shui)(shui)量,有效地改善了(le)土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)的(de)(de)透(tou)氣(qi)性和吸水(shui)(shui)性,土(tu)(tu)壤(rang)(rang)會提高接納降(jiang)水(shui)(shui)的(de)(de)能力,為微生(sheng)(sheng)物的(de)(de)生(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)創造了(le)有利條件。除(chu)草有利于幼苗(miao)的(de)(de)健康生(sheng)(sheng)長(chang),消除(chu)雜(za)草根(gen)系(xi),為幼苗(miao)提供(gong)更多的(de)(de)營(ying)養和陽光,消除(chu)爭(zheng)水(shui)(shui)、爭(zheng)肥(fei)的(de)(de)生(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)威脅。松土(tu)(tu)和除(chu)草的(de)(de)次數(shu)要根(gen)據(ju)林(lin)(lin)木生(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)的(de)(de)快慢而(er)(er)定,努力增加林(lin)(lin)木營(ying)養面(mian)積(ji),提高保土(tu)(tu)、保水(shui)(shui)效果。幼林(lin)(lin)撫育還要特別注重施(shi)肥(fei)和灌水(shui)(shui)的(de)(de)管(guan)(guan)理,根(gen)據(ju)多年的(de)(de)經驗(yan)和實際數(shu)據(ju)證明(ming),適當而(er)(er)充足(zu)的(de)(de)施(shi)肥(fei)或灌水(shui)(shui),可(ke)以提高林(lin)(lin)木生(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)速度,降(jiang)低(di)樹木死亡率。
沙冬青采用(yong)容(rong)器(qi)育(yu)(yu)苗(miao)(miao)繁(fan)殖(zhi),首先要(yao)(yao)(yao)采好(hao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi),要(yao)(yao)(yao)選(xuan)擇(ze)在合適(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)時(shi)間取種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),并應(ying)選(xuan)擇(ze)10-11年生的(de)(de)(de)(de)母(mu)樹(shu)采種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)要(yao)(yao)(yao)粒大(da)(da)飽滿,這(zhe)(zhe)樣才能(neng)保證(zheng)發芽(ya)率(lv),且(qie)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)吸水力較(jiao)強(qiang),能(neng)夠快速發芽(ya),適(shi)(shi)于(yu)栽植。選(xuan)好(hao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)要(yao)(yao)(yao)先經過催芽(ya)處(chu)理,用(yong)水浸泡,大(da)(da)約(yue)要(yao)(yao)(yao)2-3天時(shi)間,每天換水2次,這(zhe)(zhe)期間也要(yao)(yao)(yao)再次細心選(xuan)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),之后進行消(xiao)毒、催芽(ya)。催芽(ya)處(chu)理要(yao)(yao)(yao)保證(zheng)較(jiao)高的(de)(de)(de)(de)濕度與通氣條件(jian),并不(bu)時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)翻動種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi),防止發霉(mei)腐爛,也能(neng)夠使(shi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)出(chu)(chu)芽(ya)整齊。溫度保持在20-25℃的(de)(de)(de)(de)狀(zhuang)態下(xia),5天左右種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)即可(ke)露白約(yue)65%,此時(shi)就可(ke)進行播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。容(rong)器(qi)育(yu)(yu)苗(miao)(miao)比其它育(yu)(yu)苗(miao)(miao)方式更加優越,培(pei)育(yu)(yu)出(chu)(chu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)幼苗(miao)(miao)出(chu)(chu)苗(miao)(miao)整齊、均勻,而且(qie)減(jian)少了(le)移植過程中對根部的(de)(de)(de)(de)損害(hai)和破壞,造林成活率(lv)大(da)(da)大(da)(da)提高。值得注意的(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi),在容(rong)器(qi)育(yu)(yu)苗(miao)(miao)過程中要(yao)(yao)(yao)特別加強(qiang)水、肥(fei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)管理,控制好(hao)水量,增(zeng)加葉面噴肥(fei)。
沙(sha)冬(dong)(dong)青通(tong)常采(cai)用(yong)(yong)雨季直播(bo)(bo)(bo)造林,播(bo)(bo)(bo)種(zhong)前要對(dui)種(zhong)子進(jin)行(xing)浸(jin)泡,以(yi)50℃-60℃的(de)溫水(shui)浸(jin)泡24小時(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)宜,采(cai)用(yong)(yong)上述方法消毒。造林前要深(shen)整地,蓄水(shui)保墑,在(zai)(zai)(zai)土壤濕潤的(de)條(tiao)(tiao)件下,可在(zai)(zai)(zai)春季直播(bo)(bo)(bo),一般多在(zai)(zai)(zai)8-9月(yue)份雨季搶(qiang)播(bo)(bo)(bo)。條(tiao)(tiao)播(bo)(bo)(bo)造林時(shi)(shi),每米(mi)(mi)播(bo)(bo)(bo)種(zhong)溝(gou)以(yi)30-40粒種(zhong)子為(wei)(wei)宜;穴播(bo)(bo)(bo)造林時(shi)(shi),每穴以(yi)6-10粒種(zhong)子為(wei)(wei)宣;覆(fu)土厚度2厘(li)米(mi)(mi)。播(bo)(bo)(bo)種(zhong)后用(yong)(yong)草、鋸(ju)末等進(jin)行(xing)覆(fu)蓋(gai),以(yi)利于土壤濕潤、減少蒸發。人工造林要放大株(zhu)行(xing)距,依(yi)據天然沙(sha)冬(dong)(dong)青“單株(zhu)成(cheng)叢、小片狀分布”的(de)生(sheng)物學(xue)特性,株(zhu)行(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)(wei)宜,以(yi)滿足沙(sha)冬(dong)(dong)青成(cheng)齡后對(dui)水(shui)分、養分、光照條(tiao)(tiao)件的(de)需求。
沙冬(dong)青能夠抗(kang)風沙,生長季節茂密、碧綠(lv),由于(yu)沙冬(dong)青是(shi)北方常(chang)綠(lv)灌木,是(shi)良好的(de)(de)蜜源(yuan)植物,更(geng)是(shi)人煙稀少(shao)的(de)(de)荒(huang)漠和(he)難以管(guan)護的(de)(de)荒(huang)山禿嶺營造水土保持林的(de)(de)優良樹(shu)種。
沙冬青作(zuo)為(wei)蒙藥(yao)之一,其葉(xie)子煮(zhu)水服用可以治(zhi)(zhi)療(liao)肺病、咳嗽、咳痰、腹痛;枝葉(xie)入藥(yao),能祛(qu)風(feng)、活(huo)血、止痛,外(wai)用主治(zhi)(zhi)凍瘡、慢性(xing)(xing)(xing)風(feng)濕性(xing)(xing)(xing)關節炎等。其葉(xie)和嫩枝含(han)有多種(zhong)生物堿,性(xing)(xing)(xing)溫(wen)有毒,牲畜少(shao)有啃食(shi),可作(zuo)為(wei)殺(sha)蟲劑。種(zhong)子富含(han)油脂,其脂肪酸組(zu)成中亞(ya)油酸含(han)量(liang)高達87.6%,在食(shi)品、化工、醫療(liao)保健方(fang)面有很大的(de)潛力。
沙冬青還可作為鐵(tie)路、公(gong)路和高速公(gong)路建設通過(guo)荒漠、半荒漠、荒漠草原地帶(dai)的(de)護路樹(shu)種(zhong)和隔離帶(dai)樹(shu)種(zhong)。同時,沙冬青也可作為城市綠(lv)化樹(shu)種(zhong)或綠(lv)籬(li),一年(nian)四季長青,便于(yu)修剪。