Cardiospermum halicacabum
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Cardiospermum halicacabum, known as the balloon plant or love in a puff, is a climbing plant widely distributed across tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Australia, and North America. It is often found as a weed along roads and rivers.
The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia' records that other common names for Cardiospermum halicacabum were "Broad-leaved Apple" and that the Indigenous people of the Rockhampton areas referred to it as "barro" while those of Cloncurry River area in Northern Queensland referred to it as "Go-onje or Gunthamarra". Rev J. E. Tenison-Woods also records that the seeds can be eaten while the fruit was eaten roasted. The root is diuretic and demulcent. It is mucilaginous, but has a nauseous taste, and is used to treat rheumatism. (Treasury of Botany.) Sanskrit writers mention this plant under the name of Jyautishmati, and describe the root as emetic, laxative, stomachic, and rubefacient; they prescribe it in rheumatism, nervous diseases, piles, etc. The leaves are used in amenorrhoea. Rheede says that on the Malabar coast the leaves are administrated for pulmonic complaints. According to Ainslie, the root is considered aperient, and is given in dosages of half a cupful twice daily. It would appear that in rheumatism the Hindus [sic.] administer the leaves internally rubbed up with castor-oil, and also apply a paste, made with them, externally; a similar external application is used to reduce swellings and tumours of various kinds. (Dymock.)"
In New Zealand it is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord which identifies pest plants that are prohibited from commercial propagation and distribution. In Bermuda it is listed as a Category 1 Invasive Plant by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Within the United States, four southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Texas) have all placed this plant on their individual noxious weed lists.
It is one among the "Ten Sacred Flowers of Kerala", collectively known as Dasapushpam.
Cardiospermum halicacabum - L.
Common Name Heart Seed, Balloon vine
Family Sapindaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist thickets and waste ground in Eastern N. America[43].
Range E. Asia - India. N. America. Africa. Locally naturalized in S. Europe[50].
Edibility Rating (1 of 5)
Other Uses (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating (2 of 5)
Care
Half Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Cardiospermum halicacabum Heart Seed, Balloon vine
Physical Characteristics
icon of manicon of climber
Cardiospermum halicacabum is a deciduous Climber growing to 3 m (9ft 10in).
It is hardy to zone (UK) 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Synonyms
Cardiospermum acuminatum Miq. Cardiospermum corycodes Kunze. Cardiospermum glabrum Schumach. & Thonn
Habitats
Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:
Leaves and young shoots - cooked. Used as a spinach. Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds, Fruit, Stems
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diaphoretic Diuretic Emetic Emmenagogue Laxative Refrigerant Rubefacient Stomachic
The whole plant is diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, laxative, refrigerant, rubefacient, stomachic and sudorific. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, nervous diseases, stiffness of the limbs and snakebite. The leaves are rubefacient, they are applied as a poultice in the treatment of rheumatism. A tea made from them is used in the treatment of itchy skin[218]. Salted leaves are used as a poultice on swellings[218].The leaf juice has been used as a treatment for earache. The root is diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, laxative and rubefacient. It is occasionally used in the treatment of rheumatism, lumbago and nervous diseases
