balloon vine

noun

1. a tropical climbing plant, Cardiospermum halicacabum, of the soapberry family, bearing big, bladderlike pods and black seeds with a white, heart-shaped spot.

balloon vine

noun

1. a tropical tendril-climbing sapindaceous plant, Cardiospermum halicacabum , cultivated for its ornamental balloon-like seed capsules

Word History and Origins

Origin of balloon vine¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

And what an ignoramus you must be, if you do not know that a balloon-vine is a Cardiospernum Halicactum.

From Project Gutenberg