Lanzhou Fiddlehead Fern

Last updated 2026-11-15 — Also known as sawtooth fern or Buddha’s hand, it is also called auspicious vegetable or dragon claw vegetable. Fiddlehead ferns come in two types: green and purple. Green ferns are commonly referred to as sheep fern, while purple ones are called ox fern. Sheep fern is emerald green with slender stems and thin flesh, whereas ox fern is dark purple with thick stems and hearty flesh. Fiddlehead ferns contain starch, protein, fat, phosphorus, calcium, and vitamins A and C, making them a uniquely flavored wild vegetable. In addition, they also contain components such as isoquercitrin, fumaric acid, and succinic acid. The entire plant can be used medicinally to relieve boils, reduce heat, promote urination, and has certain therapeutic effects on dysentery and other illnesses. The main production area of Lanzhou fiddlehead ferns is the shady and damp regions of the southern mountains in Yuzhong. Currently, the city exports about 400,000 kilograms of salted fiddlehead ferns annually, accounting for 2.7% of the international market demand.