Fauna
Fungus

Sap Yeast

Cystofilobasidium macerans

Cystofilobasidium macerans thrives as a single-celled yeast inhabiting tree exudates, decaying plant material, and cold-climate soils. Capable of flourishing in near-freezing conditions, this psychrotolerant fungus metabolizes simple carbohydrates found in sweet sap weeping from wounded bark. When reproducing sexually, it forms characteristic filobasidiaceous structures that discharge basidiospores into forest breezes to colonize new plant surfaces.

MicroscopicCold-adaptedSaprotrophic
Sap Yeast reference1 / 7
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—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyTree sap sugars, Plant exudates, Dissolved organic carbon
Predators
  • Fungivorous nematodes
  • Springtails
  • Oribatid mites
ThreatsDeforestation and clear-cutting of old-growth woodlands
HabitatsTree bark wounds, forest soils, plant litter, phyllosphere
Life spanIndefinite through asexual budding cycles
Classification
  1. FamilyCystofilobasidiaceae
  2. SpeciesCystofilobasidium macerans
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Locating colonies: Inspect moist, foaming sap oozing from deciduous tree wounds in early spring.
  • Microscopic observation: Prepare a wet mount of sap exudate under 400x magnification to spot budding cells.
Related species
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