Taxonomic classification
 

Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidimycota
Subphylum: Basidimycotina
Order: Sporidiales
Family: Sporidiobolaceae
Genus: Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus)

Description and Natural Habitats

Cryptococcus is an encapsulated yeast. Its first identification in nature  was shown to be from peach juice samples, the major environmental sources of Cryptococcus neoformans have been shown to be either soil contaminated with pigeon droppings or eucalyptus trees and decaying wood forming hollows in living trees.  Cryptococcus neoformans was also isolated from goats with pulmonary disease. Here on Vancouver Island it is more commonly known as "The Wrath at Rathtrevor".