四(si)齒(chi)芥(jie)喜生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于(yu)田埂,平原、山(shan)坡洼地,對土(tu)壤要求不嚴,能(neng)在(zai)(zai)壤、砂,礫石(shi),荒漠或(huo)戈壁生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長,對水分要求較高,八能(neng)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長在(zai)(zai)水分充足(zu)的(de)地方,干旱則不能(neng)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長發(fa)育。水分充足(zu),生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長發(fa)育很(hen)快,它能(neng)充分利(li)用早(zao)春(chun)(chun)的(de)融雪或(huo)降(jiang)水萌(meng)發(fa)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長并(bing)很(hen)快開花結(jie)實(shi),在(zai)(zai)很(hen)短的(de)時間內完成(cheng)(cheng)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)命(ming)(ming)周期,是早(zao)春(chun)(chun)短命(ming)(ming)型小雜類草(cao)(cao)。在(zai)(zai)新疆準噶爾(er)盆地西(xi)南部沙漠邊緣(yuan)弱鹽化地,烏(wu)倫古河以南的(de)沙漠邊緣(yuan)以梭(suo)(suo)梭(suo)(suo)(Haloxylonammodendron)為(wei)建群(qun)(qun)種(zhong)的(de)草(cao)(cao)地中,四(si)齒(chi)芥(jie)與叉毛蓬(Petrosimoniasibirica),刺蓬(Salsolapestifer),一年生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)雜類草(cao)(cao)為(wei)伴生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)種(zhong),在(zai)(zai)天山(shan)北部坡地洪積扇(shan)的(de)壤土(tu)和沙壤土(tu)上,與胎生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)早(zao)熟禾(Poabulbosa),角果藜(Ceratocarpusutriculosus)共同組成(cheng)(cheng)一年生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)短命(ming)(ming)或(huo)類短命(ming)(ming)植物(wu)層片,出現在(zai)(zai)以博(bo)樂蒿(Artemisiaborotalensis)為(wei)建群(qun)(qun)種(zhong)的(de)群(qun)(qun)落(luo)中。
產(chan)新疆(奇臺、呼圖壁(bi)、瑪納斯(si)、阿(a)勒泰、富(fu)蘊、烏帕)。生于干(gan)旱荒漠、沙丘(qiu)、礫質(zhi)戈壁(bi)灘、山坡礫石灘、田(tian)邊。蘇(su)聯(lian)、巴基(ji)斯(si)坦、阿(a)富(fu)汗、伊朗也有分布。模式標本采自(zi)蘇(su)聯(lian)。
花(hua)(hua)(hua)序總狀,花(hua)(hua)(hua)多數,微小;萼(e)片寬卵形(xing),長約(yue)1毫(hao)(hao)米(mi),邊(bian)緣(yuan)白色膜(mo)質,背面具毛;花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣白色,寬楔形(xing),較萼(e)片小。長角(jiao)果圓(yuan)柱狀至(zhi)四棱形(xing),長6-8毫(hao)(hao)米(mi),頂端具4角(jiao)狀附屬物,長1-2毫(hao)(hao)米(mi),直(zhi)(zhi)向(xiang)開展,果實上部微開展或向(xiang)外彎曲,或直(zhi)(zhi)立而緊貼果軸;果梗短粗。種子細小,橢圓(yuan)形(xing),淡(dan)褐色,無膜(mo)質邊(bian)緣(yuan);子葉背倚胚(pei)根。花(hua)(hua)(hua)、果期5-7月(yue)。
四齒芥雖然植(zhi)(zhi)株矮小,生長期短,但(dan)其(qi)返(fan)青早(zao),生長快,能在(zai)早(zao)春提供一(yi)定數量的(de)青綠飼(si)草,而且粗蛋白(bai)質含量較高,粗脂肪也豐富,對牲(sheng)畜(chu)的(de)早(zao)春恢(hui)復生長發(fa)育,提高母羊的(de)泌乳量等有—定作用(yong)。因此,在(zai)開花前(qian),馬、牛、羊均采食,羊喜食。開花后,由于植(zhi)(zhi)株內辛辣味增加,適口性(xing)降低,牲(sheng)畜(chu)一(yi)般不(bu)采食,羊少量采食。為中等偏(pian)低飼(si)用(yong)植(zhi)(zhi)物。