Black Water Fern

Black Water Fern

　　Black Water County is rich in ferns. There are numerous species of ferns worldwide, with approximately 10,000 varieties globally and over 2,000 in China alone. Ferns have a wide range of uses, particularly in food, medicine, ornamental purposes, and landscaping, with a long history of utilization. According to historical records in China, dating back to ancient times, edible ferns are called fern shoots. People in various countries have a tradition of harvesting their tender leaves for fresh consumption, pickling, or drying. Long ago, fiddlehead ferns were a traditional spring food for Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States, with just the state of New Brunswick in the U.S. harvesting 150,000–200,000 tons of fiddlehead tender leaves annually. In countries such as India, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Australia, at least 30–50 species of tropical fern tender leaves can be consumed as fern shoots. In China, residents also gather over 10 types of edible ferns, such as vegetable fern, water fern, starry wood fern, maidenhair fern, and false athyrium. Aside from some for personal use, most are exported to Japan and Eastern European countries, generating substantial foreign exchange earnings for the nation every year. Therefore, ferns continue to hold significant development value to this day.