Pteridium aquilinum is a specialty of Guxian County in southwest Shanxi Province, and it is a perennial herb, commonly known as "leading vegetable".
The rhizome is thick and fat, the petiole is erect, it does not bloom, and it reproduces by spores. Most of them are born on the edge of the forest, which is a sparse forest zone along the sunny slope. Young stems and leaves are edible. When the stem is curled, it looks like a handle, so it is also called "ruyi dish".
It can also be used as medicine, and the new rhizome is rich in starch, commonly known as "fern powder" or "mountain powder", and can also be eaten as a raw material for brewing. Fresh bracken must be preserved before storage, transportation and export.