First record of Caulerpa lentillifera J. Agardh (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) from China

An edible green algal species Caulerpa lentillifera J. Agardh is reported from China for the first time. The species was collected from the southwest of Hainan Island and morphologically identified to be C. lentillifera based on the grape-like branches arising from cylindrical stolons. Phylogenetic analysis using tufA and rbcL DNA sequences also confirmed the monophyly of C. lentillifera-microphysa clade.