散生于半荒(huang)(huang)漠(mo)和荒(huang)(huang)漠(mo)帶的山地(di)(di),田野或溝谷,低(di)山、平(ping)原或盆地(di)(di)沙漠(mo)邊緣地(di)(di)帶。
分布于中國新疆,青(qing)海(hai),甘肅、寧夏、內蒙古,在國外,原蘇聯、伊朗(lang)也有。
一(yi)年(nian)生草本,高10—30cm。莖由(you)基部(bu)分枝,無毛。基生葉(xie)(xie)矩(ju)(ju)圓狀倒卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)或矩(ju)(ju)圓形(xing)(xing)(xing),長4–7cm,寬1–1.5cm,先端(duan)鈍,基部(bu)漸(jian)狹,邊緣(yuan)(yuan)具波(bo)狀齒,葉(xie)(xie)柄扁平,長5–20mm,基生葉(xie)(xie)無柄,披針(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing),先端(duan)漸(jian)尖,基部(bu)箭(jian)形(xing)(xing)(xing),半(ban)抱莖,邊緣(yuan)(yuan)疏(shu)具細(xi)齒或全緣(yuan)(yuan)。疏(shu)生少數花(hua),花(hua)白色帶淡紫色脈紋(wen)。短角(jiao)果,棒狀,長6–10mm,四棱形(xing)(xing)(xing),表面有(you)網紋(wen),喙三(san)角(jiao)形(xing)(xing)(xing),果梗下彎,種子圓柱形(xing)(xing)(xing),褐色。
四(si)棱芥是(shi)春(chun)雨型的短(duan)命(ming)(ming)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)。四(si)棱芥常(chang)混生(sheng)在(zai)(zai)(zai)以琵琶柴(Reaumuriasoongorica),博樂蒿(hao)(Artemisiaborotalensis),短(duan)葉假(jia)木賊(zei)(Anabasisbrevifolia)和小(xiao)蓬(Nanophytonerinaceum)等組成不同(tong)的低(di)山和平原(yuan)荒漠草地中.在(zai)(zai)(zai)早(zao)春(chun)可同(tong)其他早(zao)春(chun)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)組成短(duan)命(ming)(ming)、類短(duan)命(ming)(ming)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)層片。在(zai)(zai)(zai)新(xin)疆北(bei)部四(si)棱芥主(zhu)要生(sheng)于山前洪積,沖積傾斜(xie)平原(yuan),山地,低(di)山丘陵,以及準噶爾(er)盆地沙漠邊緣地區(qu)。喜生(sheng)于荒漠干燥氣(qi)候,但對(dui)土(tu)壤(rang)水(shui)分(fen)(fen)要求嚴(yan)(yan)格,水(shui)分(fen)(fen)較(jiao)好的年份,早(zao)春(chun)降水(shui)充沛,四(si)棱芥在(zai)(zai)(zai)草群(qun)中參(can)與度較(jiao)大。對(dui)土(tu)壤(rang)要求不嚴(yan)(yan),喜生(sheng)于荒漠灰鈣土(tu)上(shang)。有一(yi)定礫石(shi)質(zhi),也同(tong)樣具有生(sheng)長快、生(sheng)育期短(duan)的早(zao)春(chun)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)的特點(dian)。在(zai)(zai)(zai)新(xin)疆北(bei)部通常(chang)3月下旬(xun)到4月上(shang)旬(xun)萌(meng)發,5月開花,6月結(jie)實并枯(ku)死。
四(si)(si)棱芥(jie)在(zai)營養期適口性(xing)較(jiao)好,各種牲畜均(jun)采(cai)(cai)食(shi)(shi),山羊(yang),綿羊(yang)樂(le)食(shi)(shi),馬、牛(niu)采(cai)(cai)食(shi)(shi),開(kai)花以后植(zhi)株粗老,適口性(xing)大大下(xia)降,牲畜不愿采(cai)(cai)食(shi)(shi),僅羊(yang)少(shao)量(liang)采(cai)(cai)食(shi)(shi),枯黃(huang)后植(zhi)株保留程度較(jiao)差,葉(xie)片(pian)易脫落,失去飼用價值。四(si)(si)棱芥(jie)屬早春植(zhi)物(wu),萌發早,生長(chang)速度快,早春可(ke)提供(gong)青綠飼草(cao),對恢復牧畜的春乏,母畜產(chan)羔催乳均(jun)有特殊(shu)的飼用意義。四(si)(si)棱芥(jie)營養物(wu)含量(liang)較(jiao)高。它蛋白質含量(liang)較(jiao)高,礦質中富鈣而(er)少(shao)磷。