散生于(yu)半荒漠和荒漠帶(dai)的山(shan)地,田野或溝谷,低山(shan)、平原或盆地沙(sha)漠邊(bian)緣地帶(dai)。
分布(bu)于中國新疆,青海(hai),甘(gan)肅、寧夏、內蒙古,在國外,原蘇聯、伊朗也有。
一年(nian)生(sheng)草本,高(gao)10—30cm。莖(jing)由基(ji)(ji)(ji)部(bu)分(fen)枝,無(wu)毛。基(ji)(ji)(ji)生(sheng)葉矩(ju)圓(yuan)狀倒(dao)卵形(xing)(xing)或矩(ju)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing),長4–7cm,寬1–1.5cm,先端鈍,基(ji)(ji)(ji)部(bu)漸(jian)狹,邊緣具波狀齒(chi),葉柄(bing)扁(bian)平,長5–20mm,基(ji)(ji)(ji)生(sheng)葉無(wu)柄(bing),披針形(xing)(xing),先端漸(jian)尖,基(ji)(ji)(ji)部(bu)箭形(xing)(xing),半抱莖(jing),邊緣疏(shu)具細齒(chi)或全緣。疏(shu)生(sheng)少數花(hua),花(hua)白色帶(dai)淡紫色脈紋。短(duan)角果,棒狀,長6–10mm,四棱形(xing)(xing),表面有網紋,喙三角形(xing)(xing),果梗下(xia)彎,種子圓(yuan)柱(zhu)形(xing)(xing),褐(he)色。
四棱(leng)(leng)芥是春雨型的短(duan)命植(zhi)物(wu)。四棱(leng)(leng)芥常(chang)混生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)在(zai)以(yi)琵琶柴(Reaumuriasoongorica),博樂蒿(Artemisiaborotalensis),短(duan)葉(xie)假(jia)木賊(Anabasisbrevifolia)和小蓬(Nanophytonerinaceum)等(deng)組成不同(tong)的低山(shan)和平原荒(huang)漠(mo)草地中.在(zai)早春可同(tong)其他早春植(zhi)物(wu)組成短(duan)命、類短(duan)命植(zhi)物(wu)層片。在(zai)新(xin)疆北部四棱(leng)(leng)芥主要(yao)(yao)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于(yu)山(shan)前(qian)洪積(ji),沖(chong)積(ji)傾(qing)斜(xie)平原,山(shan)地,低山(shan)丘陵,以(yi)及準噶爾盆地沙漠(mo)邊緣地區(qu)。喜(xi)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于(yu)荒(huang)漠(mo)干(gan)燥氣候,但對(dui)土(tu)壤(rang)水(shui)分要(yao)(yao)求(qiu)嚴格,水(shui)分較(jiao)好的年份,早春降(jiang)水(shui)充沛,四棱(leng)(leng)芥在(zai)草群中參與度較(jiao)大(da)。對(dui)土(tu)壤(rang)要(yao)(yao)求(qiu)不嚴,喜(xi)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于(yu)荒(huang)漠(mo)灰鈣土(tu)上(shang)。有(you)一定礫石質,也同(tong)樣具(ju)有(you)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長快、生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)育期短(duan)的早春植(zhi)物(wu)的特點。在(zai)新(xin)疆北部通常(chang)3月(yue)下旬到4月(yue)上(shang)旬萌(meng)發,5月(yue)開花,6月(yue)結實并枯死。
四(si)棱芥(jie)在營養(yang)期適口性(xing)較好,各(ge)種牲畜均(jun)(jun)采(cai)食(shi)(shi)(shi),山羊(yang)(yang),綿(mian)羊(yang)(yang)樂食(shi)(shi)(shi),馬、牛采(cai)食(shi)(shi)(shi),開花以后植(zhi)株粗老(lao),適口性(xing)大(da)大(da)下降,牲畜不愿采(cai)食(shi)(shi)(shi),僅羊(yang)(yang)少量采(cai)食(shi)(shi)(shi),枯黃后植(zhi)株保(bao)留程度較差,葉片易(yi)脫落(luo),失去飼用(yong)價值。四(si)棱芥(jie)屬早春(chun)植(zhi)物,萌發(fa)早,生長速度快,早春(chun)可提供青綠飼草,對恢(hui)復牧畜的(de)春(chun)乏,母畜產(chan)羔催(cui)乳均(jun)(jun)有特殊的(de)飼用(yong)意義。四(si)棱芥(jie)營養(yang)物含量較高。它(ta)蛋白質含量較高,礦質中富鈣而少磷。