Dicoma anomala aka Mwanzurania

Dicoma anomala belongs to Asteraceae, the daisy family. It spreads and lives for more than one year. Its native range runs from Rwanda to South Africa. Records also place it in Angola, Congo and Tanzania. It grows in parts of Africa that have summer rain. It grows in miombo woods, savannah and grassland with scattered trees. It also grows on rocky slopes and open grassy plains. Some grassland sites lie below mountain zones.

The plant has low stems that lie along the ground. Its listed height is about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Each year's shoots grow 0.16–2 feet [0.05–0.6 metres] long. They grow from woody stems beneath the soil. These stems measure about 0.07–0.6 feet [0.02–0.18 metres]. Plants vary in form, leaf size and leaf shape. The shoots above ground die back for winter. This loss keeps frost from harming those parts.

Wild plants grow in sand and soil formed from dolerite. The growing guide says the plant accepts many soil types. To raise it from seed, use sun and well-drained soil. Sow seeds in spring and water them through summer. This matches the wet season where the plant grows wild. Seeds may start to sprout within 12–20 days. Young plants cope well with a move to a new site. They may bloom by the end of their first growing season.

People gather wild plants for use in local medicine. They use the roots in remedies for diarrhoea and dysentery. Reported uses also include colic, toothache, intestinal worms and haemorrhoids. Some root remedies aim to treat blood disorders in children. People also mix root remedies with plants called melkbos for fever. They use other plant parts for coughs and breathing complaints. These records describe uses in folk medicine. They do not prove that the treatments work.

The source lists no known food use for this species. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. One reported practice uses chewed roots to bring on vomiting. People do this when they think poisoning has occurred. This use as medicine does not mean people eat roots as food. The account lists no other practical uses beyond medicine.