Yitong bracken is a specialty of Yitong County, Siping City, Jilin Province. Yitong Mountain is densely forested, with precious natural forests such as Korean pine and Bo Huang radish, and artificial forests such as larch. There are more than 100 kinds of wild vegetables growing on the barren slopes of the forest, and bracken is the best among them.

Pteridium aquilinum is a kind of herb, which is called "cat's paw" by Yitong locals. The young shoots of bracken are edible parts. Young and sharp, curled and bent inward, shaped like a cat's paw, turquoise, and stretched out when mature. Petiole yellow-brown, one to two feet long; Rootstock grows horizontally underground, and there is a layer of dark brown fine hair outside, which contains a lot of high-quality starch and can be used to extract fern powder.

Pteridium aquilinum is nutritious. Besides starch, fat and protein, it also contains vitamins A and C, phosphorus and calcium. Every100g contains carotene1.68mg and vitamin 35mg. Its tender leaves and stems are excellent wild vegetables with unique flavor, suitable for frying, boiling, mixing and salt, and light and delicious. It can be eaten fresh after being slightly scalded with hot water, dried into dried vegetables or salted for a long time.

In Japan, Pteridium aquilinum is regarded as the king of dishes, which is a "snow country delicacy" and enjoys a high reputation. It is listed as a clear-mouthed dish for high-level banquets.

Pteridium aquilinum is an important export product of Yitong to Japan 1970 to 1984, with an annual export volume of about 200 tons.