This native species makes its home in the moist soils of swamps, marshes, ditches, and woody hammocks. A twining, herbaceous perennial vine the White Milk Weed, funastrum clausum, grows to a length of up to ten feet. The species tends to form dense mats that cover shrubs and small trees. Its multiple branches support oblong to linear dark green leaves that are 1 to 2 inches in length and up to ½ inch in width. When the leaves or stems are broken the plant exudes a milky sap.
Fragrant greenish white flowers appear in clusters at the stem tips. The flower has five elliptic petals with an overall width of about 3/8 inch. At the base of each petal is purple coloration. Typically, there are several flowers in each cluster.
This species is found in the U.S. only in Texas and Florida. In Florida the species is found in the central and southern counties. The specimen in the picture was found in the Hickey Creek Preserve near Alva. by Jim Rodwell
