Cardiospermum halicacabum, known as the lesser balloon vine, balloon plant or love in a puff, is a climbing plant widely distributed across tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Australia, South Asia and North America that is often found as a weed along roads and rivers.

The specific epithet halicacabum comes from the Greek word for salt barrel and refers to the inflated fruits, after which the common name balloon vine is derived.

The balloon vine is a strongly overgrown, perennial herbaceous climbing plant that can even become lignified at the base.

The 5 to 6 cm long, triangular foliage leaves distributed on the stem are divided into a petiole and pinnate leaf blade.

[6] The conspicuous, membranous, almost spherical or broad pear-shaped capsule fruits have a diameter of 3 to 5 cm, initially fluffy hairy, light green "balloons" brown when ripe.

[9] Sanskrit writers describe the root as emetic, laxative, stomachic, and rubefacient; they prescribe it in rheumatism, nervous diseases, piles, etc.

According to Ainslie, the root is considered laxative, and is given in dosages of half a cupful twice daily.

)[3] Its ingredients include triterpene saponins, halicaric acid, catechin tannins, terpenes, phytosterols, flavonoids and quebrachitol.

In Bermuda it is listed as a Category 1 Invasive Plant by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.