Pichia anomala, isolated from dried flower buds of Woodfordia fruticosa, produced a high activity of an intracellular phytase, at 68 U per g dry biomass, when grown at 20 degreesC for 24 h in a medium containing glucose (40 g l(-1)) and beef extract (10 g l(-1)) supplemented with Fe2+ (0.15 mM). Partially purified phytase was optimally active at 60 degreesC and pH 4 with a half life of 7 days at 60 degreesC. It retained 85% of its activity at 80 degreesC for 15 min. The enzyme is suitable for supplementing animal feeds to improve the availability of phosphate from phytate.