Cardiospermum halicacabum L.
var. halicacabum

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (13)

Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum

Photo: Bart Wursten
At Hippo House, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chobe Camp, Ngoma

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ngepi Camp, Kavango River

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chobe Camp, Ngoma

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:	Balloon vine (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Annual climber. Stems with minutely puberulous, sometimes slightly woody; tendrils present. Leaves biternate, essentially 3-foliolate with each part divided again into 3 leaflets; leaflets with coarse serrate teeth. Flowers in axillary heads, usually 3-flowered by abortion, white with a yellowish centre. Fruit a membranous, inflated capsule, green, drying to brown, more than 2 cm long. Seeds round and black with a broadly heart-shaped or kidney-shaped spot (hilum).
Notes:	See var. microcarpum for comparison.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Mainly in riverine fringes.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Pantropical
Botswana distribution:	N,SE
Growth form(s):	Climber.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Charaxes varanes varanes (Food plant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Pages 101 - 102. (Includes a picture). Exell, A.W. (1966). Sapindaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(2) Pages 509 - 510. (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 422. as Cardiospermum halicacabum (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 363. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 100. Shone, D.K. & Drummond, R.B. (1965). Poisonous Plants of Rhodesia Ministry of Agriculture, Rhodesia Page 59. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 225. as Cardiospermum halicacabum

Other sources of information about Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum
Flora of Malawi: Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum
Flora of Mozambique: Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum
Flora of Zambia: Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cardiospermum halicacabum
African Plant Database: Cardiospermum halicacabum
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Cardiospermum halicacabum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cardiospermum halicacabum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cardiospermum halicacabum
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Cardiospermum halicacabum
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Cardiospermum halicacabum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cardiospermum halicacabum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Cardiospermum halicacabum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cardiospermum halicacabum
Ispot Southern Africa: Cardiospermum halicacabum
JSTOR Plant Science: Cardiospermum halicacabum
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Cardiospermum halicacabum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cardiospermum halicacabum
The Plant List (version 1.1): Cardiospermum halicacabum
Tropicos: Cardiospermum halicacabum