Cardiospermum grandiflorum (vine, climber)

Ecology Distribution Management Info Impact Info References and Links Contacts

General Impact Balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) is an invasive climber growing in damp situations; often near river banks. It forms dense but localised infestations and can grow to enormous lengths and is capable of smothering a tree 10m tall. It competes with, and smothers, indigenous plant species by preventing their ability to effectively undergo photosynthesis. C. grandiflorum invades forest margins, watercourses and urban open spaces in subtropical regions (Wessa, 2006)          Location Specific Impacts: New South Wales (Australia)   Threat to endangered species: Exotic vines, of which the balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) is one, are reported to affect biodiversity in areas they invade by smothering native vegetation and seedlings. Vine infestations can alter light filteration, which may lead to suppressed regeneration of native species. In addition, the weight of vines cause breakage of branches, and in serious cases, lead to a complete collapse of the canopy. Dense thickets formed by exotic vines can also restrict the movement of native fauna, separating them from their food and water sources. Infestations may contribute to a more humid microclimate at the ground level providing a favorable habitat for various pathogens; changing soil moisture and nutrient density (NSW Scientific Committee, 2006). Please follow this link for a complete list of affected plant species and endangered ecological communities in New South Wales. Queensland (Australia)   Habitat alteration: In addition to its impact on the local fauna and flora diverisity, balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) is linked to the downstream ecosystem changes of riparian zones, which can be, at least partly, attributed to the dynamic nature of the riparian zones. For example, wetlands, lakes, estuarine and other coastal habitats have been shown to undergo drastic changes since the introduction of this species in Queensland (Vivian-Smith, G and Panetta D, 2002). Wingham (Australia)   Ecosystem change: Balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) is one of three invasive species which contributes to the destruction of the rainforest canopy. Branches of the trees cannot withstand the immense weight of these climbers, and often break off or get pulled downward. This means that extra light is let into the system, significantly reducing the forest's ability to protect itself from invasive photophilic weeds (Harden et al, 2004). Auckland Region (New Zealand)   Competition: The ability of balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions means that it can easily establish itself in protected regions, competing with native flora (ARC, 2008). Waikato Region (New Zealand)   Competition: Balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) is a highly invasive plant that competes with pasture land as well as native ecosystem (EW, 2007).