This year I decided to seed two packets in egg cartons with the hopes that I would plant them soon after in the garden. I waited...and waited...and waited. :/ Before long I started to think they just were not going to grow. Finally after much time had passed one tiny, frail little sprout seemed to cling to life all alone out of the two packets of seeds. I decided to rescue this little sprout and nurse it to life. I put it in a larger container and supported it gently with toothpicks. I kept it watered and just the right amount of light. It seemed to respond well as it's leaves took on a darker green color.
I dumped out the rest of the seeds into an old planter, that was on our deck, and before long it began to sprout something. It appeared different and grew faster so I assumed they were just weeds. Most recently I saw that they all seemed to die in that planter and, as I figured, they surely were just some odd weed because I started to see them growing in the cracks of the patio and elsewhere. Just the other day I looked again and noticed that this cute little plant growing in my home looked oddly similar. The leaves weren't exactly the same, the stem wasn't exactly the same, but other than that it seemed that maybe all this time spent nurturing that frail sprout in the hopes that my plant would soon flower was in the end taking extremely good care of a weed. It still looks nicer than those on the patio...but it has been kept inside.
I decided to do a little web-surfing tonight on this "William Guinness Columbine". I have resigned hope that it is in fact the flower growing. However, in addition to my reading I am finding the following: Danger: Seed is poisonous if ingested. Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested. ---Also another note said this:---The plant's seeds and roots are highly poisonous however, and contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed as food. However, this plant is better avoided due to its high toxicity; columbine poisonings may be fatal.
***After hours of searching online...and reading through various "weed database sites"...I think it's in the "smartweed" family. Oh the irony. ;) But, honestly I really don't know. The plant growing inside looks so much nicer than those outside, but I'm fairly certain it is the same plant. For now though, I think I'll let it live in my kitchen until it gets messy, ugly, or overgrown. I think it's safe anyway and I guess I am curious to see what it does in case it would shed light on what it is. :) Considering most people wouldn't grow a weed in their home, the plant could have some differences in slight due to the lack of extreme elements.
...however, if you do know what this is and it isn't something that should be indoors let me know ASAP!!!