Lobelia heterophylla is a blue to purple flowered herb found in Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

. The specific epithet refers to the variety of leaf forms found on individual plants. The species was first described by Jacques Labillardière

Jacques Labillardière

Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière was a French naturalist noted for his descriptions of the flora of Australia. Labillardière was a member of a voyage in search of the La Pérouse expedition...

 in his seminal work on Australian flora, Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen

Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen

Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen is a two volume work describing the flora of Australia. The author was the French botanist Jacques Labillardière, who visited the region in 1792 with the d'Entrecasteaux expedition...

. L. heterophylla has a wide distribution, due to its ability to inhabit a variety of soil types. The habit of the herbaceous plant is erect, up to 0.6 metres, with flowers appearing from August or October to December, or January to February. The flower whorl is deeply cleft, its colour range of blue, scarlet or purple is well known and it is considered to be a desirable specimen for use in gardens. The plant is commonly referred to as Wing-seeded Lobelia and Australian blue creeper (Various-leaved Lobelia). The species was featured and illustrated by Joseph Paxton

Joseph Paxton

Sir Joseph Paxton was an English gardener and architect, best known for designing The Crystal Palace.-Early life:...

in 1838.