Wel Penela (වැල් පෙනෙල) Cardiospermum halicacabum

 Image Source

Image Source

Common name - Wel Penela 

Botanical name - Cardiospermum halicacabum

Family - Sapindaceae

Life cycle - Annual

Morphology 

• The plant’s stem is only approximately 3 mm thick, but it can reach a height of up to 2 meters. 
• The stem forms inter-nodes of between 5-10 cm in length.
• The grooved stem carries alternate double triad leaves, 3 to 5 cm long, which are hairless or covered in a soft down of hairs. The oval or lanceate leaves have a deeply serrated or lobated edge. The leaflets at the side are smaller. 
• The tiny radiate flowers are white, standing in rolls on long flower stems of 5 to 10 cm in length. The perianth consists of 4 to 5 egg-shaped sepals and four petals with banner or wing-like fine combs. There are 8 anthers. Just beneath the flower stalks are 2 cm long tendrils, usually in pairs.
•  The roughly 3 cm long green fruit is a blown up, almost entirely spherical capsule
• Mainly tap root and fibrous roots.

Propagation 

• Propagation by seeds.

Agricultural usage/ importance 

• It creeps around the crop plants. It competes for sunlight, moisture, and besides soil nutrients with crop.
• Has a medicinal value.

Control method 

• Hand weeding, Mechanical weeding using mammoties.