CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

NEERI Biodiversity Portal

Easy access to campus Biodiversity...

Facilitates Learning & Sharing Knowledge of Biodiversity on a Click

NBP was inaugurated by Dr. M.S. Ladania, Director, NRCC Nagpur on 8 April 2015

Balloon Plant/Love in a Puff

Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

Botanical name	: Cardiospermum halicacabum L.
Common Name	: Balloon Plant/Love in a Puff
Family	: Sapindaceae
About	: The combination of Cardiospermum halicacabum's balloon like fruits, and seeds marked with hearts, gives this species its common name, "love in a puff". It is one among the "Ten Sacred Flowers of Kerala State in India, collectively known as Dasapushpam. Extensively used in various Siddha and Ayurvedic medicinal preparations. Plant is a deciduous Climber growing to 3 m. The stem forms internodes of between 5-10 cm in length. The grooved stem carries alternate double triad leaves, 3 to 5 cm long, which are hairless or covered in a soft down of hairs. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). The plant blooms in different periods, depending on where it grows.