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October 9, 2007 : Cardiospermum halicacabum
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Keywords: Sapindaceae | Cardiospermum halicacabum L. | Jardin Botanico El Charco del Ingenio, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
Thanks again to David Tarrant for sending along a couple photographs from his local botanical garden in Mexico (I will visit one day, I promise!).
Cardiospermum halicacabum is known commonly as balloon vine, love-in-a-puff or, in Mexico, as frolitos (little lanterns). This woody vine is related to maples, although at first glance it more closely resembles the also-related golden raintree, Koelreuteria paniculata, because of the inflated fruit capsules.
The meaning of love-in-a-puff and the name of the genus, Cardiospermum, are linked. Cardiospermum broken down into its component parts means heart (cardio-) and seed (sperma-). The seeds are not shaped like hearts, but instead have a white heart-shaped pattern on the round and otherwise brown seeds (source with more photographs).
Cardiospermum halicacabum has a pantropical (and subtropical) distribution. For further reading, Cal's Plant of the Week featured this species a few years ago. Also, more photographs are available via the Image Archive of Central Texas Plants.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at October 9, 2007 8:05 AM
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Comments
Posted by: Beverley at October 9, 2007 8:42 AM
Gosh, these photos were very interesting. By the name on the title I figured they would be like Bleeding Hearts (one of my favorite flowers), then find it is totally different. Thanks for the pictures and the information. It is interesting to learn about new plants, and this one was doubly ingeresting because I was so wrong, but not disappointed at all.
Posted by: Sue at October 9, 2007 8:45 AM
the site with the seed pictures is great. I saved it in my favorites because there are so many pictures that I know I will have to take more happy time looking at these pictures. the links is one of the best things in this daily letter. Lanie
Posted by: Elaine Chrysler at October 9, 2007 9:17 AM
This plant is very interesting as it has look of a common Perennial Flower , Called Baloon flower, which opens to a purple colour. I really enjoyed seeing the pictures today.
Thank you,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at October 9, 2007 2:11 PM
El Charco is a wonderful garden with a dramatic setting,especially at sunset, overlooking a deap canyon and the historic town of San Miquel de Allende.
My screen saver on my office computer is a picture of the shallow bird filled lake above the gardens that drains into the canyon, so I am constantly reminded of this great place.
My wife and I will be visiting the gardens again next February with our bird watching friends from Gurnsey and hope I can locate some Frolitos to impress them with my recently acquired botanic knowledge.
It is facinating to follow the links that are provided. It is difficult to think of the plant as 'noxious" or something useful as an emetic or good for one's lumbago. It appears that every plant has many uses.
The photo of the day is a welcome change from the usual business e-mails and all that spam.
Thanks
Posted by: John Murtaugh at October 9, 2007 3:49 PM
your little lanterns are of real interest
the flower i know from up north are
called chinese lanterns i just found
them on line in an old flower and garden
article and just as i remember them
our golden rain trees are in bloom here
in west central florida thank you for the
links the tree looks just like your image
its still hot and dry we do need rain
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at October 9, 2007 4:00 PM
C. halicacabum is listed as a noxious weed seed in the seed laws of sixteen U. S. states. The size and shape of its seeds are practically the same as soybean, making it difficult to clean from seed of this crop.
Posted by: Rodney Young at October 10, 2007 12:05 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Cardiospermum halicacabum - Z9 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Cardiospermum halicacabum - 7 - 10 degrees C/45 - 50 degrees F - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk