The balloon vine is a deciduous woody vine with bright green, fern-like leaves, small, white flowers and curious, inflated, fruits. It is native to tropical America and it can be found growing in forests, wetlands and along rivers. The stems climb by way of forked tendrils that have two coiled branches. The stems are 4-angled and can can grow up to 10 feet long. The fruits are inflated and three-lobed, with one seed in each lobe. The fruits resemble small balloons. They change from light green to reddish and then to light brown when mature. The seeds are round and black, with a light brown heart-shaped marking, hence the common names heartseed vine and love in a puff. It is grown as an ornamental plant and it is also used medicinally. It has a fast growth rate. C. halicacabum is grown as an annual in temperate regions and it is a perennial in frost-free regions. Zones 8b-11.