Liping Water Fern

Liping Water Fern

　　Stir-fried Water Fern

　　Ferns are among the earliest groups of land plants to appear on Earth, with a history of over 40 million years. As early as the beginning of China’s Zhou Dynasty, there are records of Boyi and Shuqi picking ferns on Shouyang Mountain and surviving on them. Ferns strengthen the spleen, eliminate phlegm and dampness, and offer benefits such as relieving summer heat, promoting urination, aiding weight loss, and delaying aging. Water fern, also known as premium fern, is considered one of the finest varieties among ferns. According to experts, it is produced in only two or three counties in Guizhou Province.

　　Water fern grows in cool, moist river valleys and can reach over a foot in length in fertile soil, though it usually grows to about five inches. It has a sweet taste and tender texture, and the entire plant is edible. Soft and delicious, water fern is served as a distinctive and flavorful dish in local meals—you might want to give it a try when dining.