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Project Noah Nature School
Cardiospermum halicacabum
Cardiospermum is the combination of the Latin words cardio, meaning heart, and sperma, meaning seed and refers to the white heart-shaped pattern on the seed. Halicacabum is derived from the Latin word halicacabus, a plant with inflated fruits. Hence the common name ‘Love-in-a-puff’. It is also called as ‘Balloon Vine’ because the seed pods resembles balloons.
Often found as a weed along roads and rivers, it has been examined for antidiarrhoeal as well as homeopathic medicinal properties.
Fruit Type and Description: An “inflated, green, papery capsule”, with 3 chambers, 3-4.5cm in diameter. Seed Description: Black, opaque, smooth with a white, finely porous heart-shaped spot at the micropyle. Measures 5mm in diameter. Seeds ripen from August to October.
Spotted on Oct 8, 2014
Submitted on Oct 21, 2014
2 Comments
Yes, they look lovely and I liked the cute nickname you have chosen for them, VivBraznell.
One of my absolute favourite plants here in Thailand Deepti ... I nicknamed it the Dimsum plant until I found an ident. I love the flowers as well