Changes

*''Caulerpa kilneri'' J. Agardh (1873), *''C. longistipitata'' (Weber Bosse) Sved. (1906).

*Plant stoloniferous, up to 10 cm tall; stolons branched, terete in cross-section, 1-1.5(-2) mm in diameter. *Descending branches (pillars) with tufts of rhizoids arising at irregular intervals from ventral side of stolons. *Fronds rather densely set, without stalks or with very short, naked lower section on the upright axis, usually less than 5 mm long and 1-2 mm in diameter, consisting of an irregularly branched or more often unbranched terete axis, completely and usually densely covered by subspherical or more or less clavate branchlets, 1-3 mm in diameter, placed on 5-8 longitudinal rows or more irregularly and imbricately placed, always supported by clearly constricted pedicels. *Thalli holocarpic when fertile.

Sexual reproduction of ''C. lentillifera'' is believed to be similar to that of other ''Caulerpa'' , but has not yet been observed in South-East Asia. Sexual reproduction of these most probably holocarpic plants would result in empty outer walls that would disintegrate quickly.

''C. lentillifera'' is cultivated in the Philippines in ponds and open lagoons which are protected from strong waves. Initial stocking rate is 100 g/m²or 1000 kg/ha; the seedstock is planted on the pond bottom uniformly by burying one end of a handful of seedstock at approximately one metre intervals, using string as a guide. Broadcasting may also be used to seed the ponds. However, the seedstock is then not anchored to the bottom and may easily be carried away by waves, becoming concentrated in one part of the pond which results in patchy or uneven growth. Planting is therefore the more efficient method. When cultivated in open lagoons, the site should be shallow (0.3-0.5 m at lowest tide) with free-flowing water and the substrate must be muddy-loam. The area must first be cleared of seagrasses and other marine organisms. Branches are half-buried into the muddy substrate at 0.5 m intervals. In the wild ''C. lentillifera'' is highly seasonal, with peak production during the sunny dry months of the year. All year round production is, however, possible if a flow-through system is installed in the culture ponds to fully control their salinity level during the rainy season. In the ponds multiplication mainly takes place by fragmentation of thalli. Cage cultivation of ''C. lentillifera'' is undertaken in Okinawa (Japan). Multistage cylindrical cages are used for cultivation in the tropical waters of Yamaha Bay. Small bundles of thalli are tied to the middle of the floor of each stage of the cages, which are then hung in the sea. If the cultivation ground is too shallow for the cages to hang, mosquito nets with bundles of cut pieces tied at intervals of 0.5-1 m are laid on the bottom parallel to the currents.

Harvesting of ''C. lentillifera'' may be undertaken two months (or more) after planting, depending on the growth rate of the crop. Harvesting takes place when the bottom of the pond is uniformly covered with ''Caulerpa'' . About 20-25% of the original crop should be left more or less uniformly spread or spaced on the pond bottom to serve as seedstock for the next crop. Depending on the amount of seedstock left and the growth rate of the plants, the succeeding harvests may be reaped at intervals of about two weeks or longer. Harvesting is done by uprooting the plants from the mud. These are placed in a wooden dugout or banca and are washed thoroughly in clean seawater to remove the mud, silt and other dirt. Partial harvesting is also practised in open lagoon cultivation so that enough stock is left for the next crop.

In Japan, fresh fronds of ''C. lentillifera'' are packed in 100-200 g packages. These will stay fresh for about 7 days if kept chilled and moist. If refrigerated (5-10°C10 °C) in bottles or tubular polythene bags with seawater it will remain fresh for about 3 months. Brine-cured or salted and dehydrated samples, when soaked in freshwater, swell rapidly and recover their original shape within several minutes. Therefore, when distributed in ready-to-eat packets, these seaweeds and their dressing should be packed separately.

*G.C. Trono Jr