Saltwater
Sea grapes
Caulerpa lentillifera
Caulerpaceae
Facts
Care
- Growth form
- Under water
- Placement
- On stone or wood
- Light
- Medium
- CO₂
- Not needed
- Growth
- Fast
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
Range
Seen here
Seen in the wild in Australia, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, and 10 more countries.
More about the species
Description
Caulerpa lentillifera or sea grape is a species of ulvophyte green algae from coastal regions in the Asia-Pacific. This seaweed is one of the favored species of edible Caulerpa due to its soft and succulent texture. It is traditionally eaten in the cuisines of Southeast Asia, Oceania, and East Asia. It was first commercially cultivated in the Philippines in the 1950s, followed by Japan in 1968. Both countries remain the top consumers of C. lentillifera. Its cultivation has since spread to other countries, including Vietnam and China. C. lentillifera, along with C. racemosa, are also known as sea grapes or green caviar in English. It is a siphonous macroalgae, meaning it is a giant single cell with multiple nuclei, and can grow to 30 cm in length. Instead of leaves, the algae has bubbles that burst in the mouth, releasing an umami taste.
Other names
No other names.
