Cardiospermum microcarpum
Kunth
Balloon vine, Leaved heart pea
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(c) Teri, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Teri
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(c) Joe MDO, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Joe MDO
Description
A climber. It grows 1-3 m tall. It grows each year from seeds. The stem is slender and with a strong furrow. Young parts are hairy. The leaves are alternate and leaflets arranged in 2 groups of three. The leaf stalks are 5-8 cm long. The flowers are small and white. They are on long slender stalks. The fruit is an inflated capsule with 3 chambers.
Edible Uses
The leaves are eaten as a green vegetable, and an extract of the whole plant is added to porridge.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are eaten as a green vegetable. An extract of the whole plant is added to porridge.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Botswana, Brazil, Dominican Republic, India, Paraguay, South America, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, West Indies,
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 83.3 | 255 | 61 | 4.7 | — | — | — | — |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Kottavan, Penela, Wel-penela
References (1)
- Rajapaksha, U., 1998, Traditional Food Plants in Sri Lanka. HARTI, Sri Lanka. p 443
