Home | > | List of families | > | Sapindaceae | > | Cardiospermum | > | grandiflorum |
Synonyms: |
Cardiospermum hirsutum Willd. |
Common names: | Balloon vine (English) |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | Introduced |
Description: |
Perennial climber. Stems with bristly hairs, sometimes slightly woody; tendrils present. Leaves compound; leaflets with serrate margins. Flowers in many-flowered axillary heads, white with a yellowish centre, fragrant. Fruit a membranous, inflated capsule, green, drying to brown. Seeds round and black with an oblong to heart-shaped spot (hilum). It was introduced as a garden ornamental and has only recently become widely naturalised, particularly in and around Harare. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | grandiflorum: large flowered |
Habitat: | Occurring mainly in urban areas but also near the margins of forest and riverine fringes. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Tropical America and tropical Africa |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,E |
Growth form(s): | Climber. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Deudorix antalus (Food plant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Monday 12 June 2006 |
Literature: |
Exell, A.W. (1966). Sapindaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(2) Pages 510 - 512. (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. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 173. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Sapindaceae | > | Cardiospermum | > | grandiflorum |