Fever bush
Dicoma anomala

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A spreading herb. It lies along the ground. The aerial stems arise from woody underground stems. The aerial stems are 5-60 cm long. And the underground stems with tubers are 2-18 cm long. The leaves are 3-11 cm long and 6 mm wide. They are long and narrow. The flower heads are like thistles. There are 20-90 purple-mauve florets. This plant varies a lot.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland, grassland and rocky hillsides. It can be on sandy or dolerite soils. It grows between 150-2,300 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a tea substitute.

It is only occasionally used.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aambeibos, Chifumuro, Chiparurangomo, Hlvenya, Hleonya, Imbennukela, Inkosiyewithi, Inyongana, Mahlabane, Mangwe amancane, Mohlasetse, Palidje-cando, Phalidjikandu, Thlonya

Synonyms

Dicoma anomala subsp. cirsioides (Harv.) Wild.; Dicoma karaguensis Oliv.; Dicoma megacephala Bak.; Dicoma nyikensis Bak.;