Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum)
Description
Cardiospermum halicacabum, known as the balloon plant or love in a puff, is a climbing plant widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. Often found as a weed along roads and rivers, it has been examined for antidiarrhoeal as well as homoeopathic medicinal properties. The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that other common names 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 in 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, ples, etc. The leaves are used in amenorrhoea. Rheede says that on the Malabar coast the leaves are administrated in pulmonic complaints. According to Ainslie, the root is considered aperient, and is given in decoction to the extent of half a cupful twice daily. It would appear that in rheumatism the Hindus [sic.] 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. It is one among the "Ten Sacred Flowers of Kerala", collectively known as Dasapushpam.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Sapindales
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Family: Sapindaceae
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Genus: Cardiospermum
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