Balloon Vine, a birthday flower of September 17th

Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum) is one of the birthday flowers of September 17th annually. As far as I am aware, it only appears in the birthday calendar of flowers once. In Japanese it is called fuusenkazara フウセンカズラ.

It is loved in Japan delicate green “balloons”, pictured, as much as the white flowers it produces. These papery 'balloon' pods begin forming in July and continue through September. I took the photo in this post in August. Inside each balloon is a glossy black seed with a small white heart, a detail that inspired its scientific name 'cardiospermum' and its alternative name in English 'Heart Seed'. 

In the Japanese language of flowers, hanakotoba, Balloon Vine carries the meaning "I want to fly together". A good match to the light pods that look like they are ready to lift off with their heart-marked seeds inside.