Noon flower
Distimake dissectus
Family: Convolvulaceae
What it is like
A twining vine. The stems are hairy. The exudate from the plant is clear. The leaves are simple and have 5-7 lobes. The leaves are 3-15 cm long by 4-15 cm wide. A few flowers occur together in the axils of leaves. The flowers are 3-4 cm across. They are white or cream with a reddish-purple throat. The fruit is a brown or black capsule. It has 4 valves. The capsule is 1.2-1.8 cm long by 1.3-1.8 cm wide. There are 2-4 black seeds.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Argentina, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, French Guiana, Ghana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies
How it is used for food
The seeds have an odour of bitter almonds and are used to flavour a liqueur. They are also used as an almond substitute in cakes, sweet breads and candy. The tuber is cooked in ashes. They are also boiled.
It is occasionally cultivated as a food plant.
Edible parts
Seeds - flavouring, tuber, root
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Flor-de-pau, Noya vine, Pujukuode
Synonyms
Convolvulus dissectus Jacq.; Merremia dissecta (Jacq.) Hallier f.; Ipomoea sinuata Ort.; and several others