Cardiospermum halicacabum

Cardiospermum halicacabum, known as the balloon plant or love in a puff, is a climbing plant widely distributed across tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Australia, and North America. It is often found as a weed along roads and rivers. The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia' records that other common names for Cardiospermum halicacabum were 'Broad-leaved Apple' and that the Indigenous people of the Rockhampton areas referred to it as 'barro' while those of Cloncurry River area in Northern Queensland referred to it as 'Go-onje or Gunthamarra'. Rev J. E. Tenison-Woods also records that the seeds can be eaten while the fruit was eaten roasted. The root is diuretic and demulcent. It is mucilaginous, but has a nauseous taste, and is used to treat rheumatism. (Treasury of Botany.) Sanskrit writers mention this plant under the name of Jyautishmati, and describe the root as emetic, laxative, stomachic, and rubefacient; they prescribe it in rheumatism, nervous diseases, piles, etc. The leaves are used in amenorrhoea. Rheede says that on the Malabar coast the leaves are administrated for pulmonic complaints. According to Ainslie, the root is considered aperient, and is given in dosages of half a cupful twice daily. It would appear that in rheumatism the Hindus administer the leaves internally rubbed up with castor-oil, and also apply a paste, made with them, externally; a similar external application is used to reduce swellings and tumours of various kinds. (Dymock.)' In New Zealand it is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord which identifies pest plants that are prohibited from commercial propagation and distribution. In Bermuda it is listed as a Category 1 Invasive Plant by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Within the United States, four southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Texas) have all placed this plant on their individual noxious weed lists. It is one among the 'Ten Sacred Flowers of Kerala', collectively known as Dasapushpam. Media related to Cardiospermum halicacabum at Wikimedia Commons