Cardiospermum halicacabum L.
var. halicacabum

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Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum

Photo: Bart Wursten
At Hippo House, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhahomba area, Chimanimani National Reserve

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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.
Altitude range:	Up to 1300 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Pantropical
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,T,MS,GI,M
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
Content last updated:	Sunday 9 February 2020
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Pages 101 - 102. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 12. 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). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 76. 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 Botswana: Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum
Flora of Caprivi: Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum
Flora of Malawi: 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
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cardiospermum halicacabum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cardiospermum halicacabum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cardiospermum halicacabum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cardiospermum halicacabum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cardiospermum halicacabum
JSTOR Plant Science: Cardiospermum halicacabum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cardiospermum halicacabum
Plants of the World Online: Cardiospermum halicacabum
Tropicos: Cardiospermum halicacabum
Wikipedia: Cardiospermum halicacabum