Cardiospermum halicacabum
(Balloon-vine)
Cardiospermum halicacabum,
East Braker Lane, Austin, Travis Co. 9140
Cardiospermum halicacabum,
East Braker Lane, Austin, Travis Co. 9137
Cardiospermum halicacabum,
East Braker Lane, Austin, Travis Co. 9142
Cardiospermum halicacabum,
East Braker Lane, Austin, Travis Co. 9125
Cardiospermum halicacabum,
East Braker Lane, Austin, Travis Co. 9148
| Scientific Name | Cardiospermum halicacabum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CAHA13 |
| Common Name | Balloon-vine, Love-in-a-puff | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 28667 |
| Family | Sapindaceae (Soapberry) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Various soils in open waste areas, woodlands, banks and fence lines. Plant: Sprawling and/or climbing vine with much-branched, wiry stems with forked tendrils; stems up to 6+ feet long presenting a tangled mess. Leaves: Alternate, biternate compound leaves with ovate-lanceolate leaflets that have incised edges, each up to 3-1/8 inches long and 1-1/8 inches wide; on petioles 3/4 to 1-1/8 inches long. Inflorescence: Clusters of small white flowers in leaf axils, each about 1/4-inch diameter with 4 obovate petals aboy 1/8-inch long or less; at the center are petal-like whitish appendages with yellow tips forming a hood over the nectary glands; the calyx is light green with 4 small unequal sepals, the inner ones about 1/8-inch long and the outer ones about half as long. Bloom Period: June to November. Fruit: Large, roundish inflated capsules about up to 1.8 inches across, green becoming brown, containing shiny, black seeds, about 0.2-inch in diameter. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason and CABI. | BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024