Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

Balloon Vine; Love in a Puff; Heart Seed

Vine

Biennial

Vascular

Balloon Vine is an introduced herbaceous perennial in the Soapberry family (Sapindaceae). It is native to South and Central America, but is now found in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. In Alabama it is found across the state, usually near major rivers. Balloon Vine occurs on roadsides, in swamp forests, on sand bars, in fields, and in other moist disturbed areas. It is a perennial herbaceous vine from a taproot. It can reach lengths of 10 feet or more and may become woody towards the base. The stems climb by tendrils from the axils of the leaves. The stems are green in color, grooved, and glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, triangular in outline, and biternately dissected. The segments of the leaf are lanceolate in outline, serrate, and sparsely pubescent. The functionally unisexual flowers are produced in panicles of 3-7 from the axils of the leaves. Each flower has 4 unequal green sepals, 4 unequal white or yellowish petals, and 8 anthers. The fruit is an obovoid papery, pubescent capsule. The seed are black and white. Balloon Vine is sometimes cultivated for its unusual fruit. It can be grown from cuttings or seed. Balloon Vine is considered an invasive species in many tropical countries and in some states.—A. Diamond.

**

Not Native FAC (NWPL)

**