四齒(chi)芥喜生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于田(tian)埂,平原、山坡(po)洼地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di),對土壤(rang)(rang)(rang)要(yao)求不嚴,能在(zai)(zai)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)、砂,礫石,荒漠(mo)或(huo)戈壁生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長,對水(shui)(shui)(shui)分(fen)(fen)要(yao)求較(jiao)高,八能生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長在(zai)(zai)水(shui)(shui)(shui)分(fen)(fen)充足的(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)方,干旱則(ze)不能生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長發育(yu)。水(shui)(shui)(shui)分(fen)(fen)充足,生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長發育(yu)很(hen)快(kuai),它能充分(fen)(fen)利用(yong)早(zao)春的(de)(de)融雪或(huo)降(jiang)水(shui)(shui)(shui)萌發生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長并很(hen)快(kuai)開花結實,在(zai)(zai)很(hen)短的(de)(de)時間(jian)內完成生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)命(ming)周期,是早(zao)春短命(ming)型小雜(za)類(lei)(lei)草。在(zai)(zai)新疆準噶爾盆地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)西(xi)南部沙(sha)(sha)漠(mo)邊(bian)緣弱鹽化地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di),烏倫古(gu)河以(yi)南的(de)(de)沙(sha)(sha)漠(mo)邊(bian)緣以(yi)梭(suo)梭(suo)(Haloxylonammodendron)為建群(qun)種(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)草地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)中,四齒(chi)芥與叉毛(mao)蓬(Petrosimoniasibirica),刺蓬(Salsolapestifer),一(yi)年(nian)(nian)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)雜(za)類(lei)(lei)草為伴(ban)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)種(zhong)(zhong),在(zai)(zai)天山北(bei)部坡(po)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)洪積扇(shan)的(de)(de)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)土和沙(sha)(sha)壤(rang)(rang)(rang)土上(shang),與胎生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)早(zao)熟禾(Poabulbosa),角果藜(Ceratocarpusutriculosus)共同組成一(yi)年(nian)(nian)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)短命(ming)或(huo)類(lei)(lei)短命(ming)植物層片,出現在(zai)(zai)以(yi)博樂蒿(hao)(Artemisiaborotalensis)為建群(qun)種(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)群(qun)落中。
產新(xin)疆(奇臺、呼圖壁、瑪納斯、阿勒泰、富蘊、烏帕)。生于干旱荒(huang)漠、沙丘、礫(li)質戈壁灘、山坡礫(li)石灘、田(tian)邊(bian)。蘇(su)聯(lian)、巴基斯坦、阿富汗、伊朗也有分布。模(mo)式標本采自(zi)蘇(su)聯(lian)。
花(hua)序總狀(zhuang),花(hua)多數,微(wei)小;萼片(pian)寬(kuan)卵形,長(chang)約1毫(hao)米,邊(bian)緣白色膜(mo)質,背(bei)面具毛;花(hua)瓣白色,寬(kuan)楔形,較萼片(pian)小。長(chang)角果(guo)(guo)圓柱狀(zhuang)至四(si)棱形,長(chang)6-8毫(hao)米,頂端具4角狀(zhuang)附屬物(wu),長(chang)1-2毫(hao)米,直向開(kai)展,果(guo)(guo)實上部微(wei)開(kai)展或向外彎曲,或直立而緊(jin)貼(tie)果(guo)(guo)軸;果(guo)(guo)梗短粗(cu)。種(zhong)子細小,橢圓形,淡褐色,無膜(mo)質邊(bian)緣;子葉背(bei)倚胚根(gen)。花(hua)、果(guo)(guo)期(qi)5-7月。
四齒芥雖然植株矮小,生(sheng)長(chang)期短,但(dan)其返青早,生(sheng)長(chang)快,能在(zai)早春提供(gong)一定(ding)數量的青綠飼(si)草,而且粗(cu)(cu)蛋白(bai)質含量較高(gao),粗(cu)(cu)脂肪也豐富,對牲(sheng)畜(chu)的早春恢復生(sheng)長(chang)發(fa)育,提高(gao)母羊的泌乳量等有—定(ding)作(zuo)用。因此(ci),在(zai)開花(hua)前,馬、牛、羊均采(cai)(cai)食(shi)(shi)(shi),羊喜食(shi)(shi)(shi)。開花(hua)后,由于植株內辛辣味增加(jia),適(shi)口(kou)性降低,牲(sheng)畜(chu)一般不采(cai)(cai)食(shi)(shi)(shi),羊少量采(cai)(cai)食(shi)(shi)(shi)。為中等偏低飼(si)用植物。