Shepherd's vine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Balloon vine
• Black winter cherry
• heart pea
• lesser balloonvine
• love in a puff
• small balloon vine
• winter cherry
• heart-pea
• winter-cherry
• Love-In-A-Puff
• honeymoon vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Corindum halicacabum
• Cardiospermum acuminatum
• Cardiospermum halicacabum var. grandiflorum
• Rhodiola biternata
• Cardiospermum glabrum
• Cardiospermum corycodes
• Cardiospermum corycodes
• Cardiospermum moniliferum
• Cardiospermum luridum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Sapindales, it is classified in the family Sapindaceae and is identified by the genus Cardiospermum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several Mediterranean regions. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in Spain. Its presence extends into Southeastern Europe, where it inhabits Albania and Greece. Additionally, it is distributed throughout Southeastern Europe within the country of Italy. Finally, this medicinal species is also located in the southeastern European region of Kriti.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cardiospermum halicacabum is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse environmental settings, spanning an elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1800 m AMSL. This species exhibits a versatile habitat preference, allowing it to thrive in various ecosystems including the Caatinga (stricto sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semi-decidua, and Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial). Such a wide distribution across these distinct biomes suggests a high tolerance for varying moisture levels and light availability, ranging from seasonal semi-deciduous forests to humid ombrophilous environments.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Genetics

The genetics of Cardiospermum halicacabum are characterized by a specific chromosomal architecture that defines its cellular composition. The plant possesses a chromosome number of 22, which serves as the fundamental numerical basis for its karyotype. Furthermore, this species is classified as being at a diploid ploidy level, indicated by a value of 2, meaning it maintains two complete sets of chromosomes within its somatic cells.

Chromosome number :

22

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Cardiospermum halicacabum is characterized by its classification as an annual species, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, the plant survives unfavorable periods through the dispersal of seeds rather than maintaining persistent vegetative structures. Its growth habit is distinctly deciduous, meaning it sheds its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle, typically responding to changes in temperature or moisture availability. This life strategy allows the plant to rapidly colonize available spaces, utilizing its ephemeral nature to thrive in disturbed or seasonal environments before returning to a dormant seed state.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cardiospermum halicacabum is characterized by its growth habit as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an obligatory climbing vine. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, lacking parasitic tendencies, and does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. The plant's physical stature varies significantly depending on its environment, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 6 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cardiospermum halicacabum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative morphology includes leaves that vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, and widths spanning from 0.5 cm to 2 cm. These leaves do not exhibit succulence, maintaining a standard leaf structure rather than storing significant water in specialized tissues. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic diazotrophic processes to support its physiological development and growth.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cardiospermum halicacabum is characterized by its distinct inflorescence and specialized fruit structures. The plant produces white flowers arranged in inflorescences that vary in length, with minimum measurements recorded at 35 m and maximums reaching up to 0.12 m. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules exhibit significant morphological variation, with a minimum width of 2 cm, a mean width of 3 cm, and a maximum width of 4 cm, while their length ranges from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm. The fruit is dehiscence-based, meaning it is classified as dehiscent. Within these fruits, the seeds vary in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.02243 g, a mean mass of 0.03902 g, and a maximum mass of 0.0823 g. For the spreading of its progeny, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

white

Fruit length max:

3.5 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width mean:

3 cm

Fruit width min:

2 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.12 m

Inflorescence length min:

35 m

Seed mass max:

0.0823 g

Seed mass mean:

0.03902 g

Seed mass min:

0.02243 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cardiospermum halicacabum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Malaria journal
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition

Chemicals

Cardiospermum halicacabum has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, GA3, Glycosides, Phytosterols, ROS.

Flavonoids

1. Ancient science of life

GA3

1. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)

Glycosides

1. Ancient science of life

Phytosterols

1. Ancient science of life

ROS

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

SAPONIN

1. Ancient science of life

TAXOL

1. Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology

berberine

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta

Activities

Cardiospermum halicacabum has 9 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Antiulcer.

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiproliferative

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antiulcer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiviral

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Nephroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Cardiospermum halicacabum has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Brugia pahangi, Plasmodium falciparum, Strongyloides stercoralis, cancers, dermatophytoses.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations