Is it the same species or not? If it is commercially grown for industrial use then it is not endangered. How do they know that this sample wasn't taken from a commercial farm?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadowfoam
There are various species. It would seem silly for the "oil-crop" type meadowfoam to be under protection (though not unlikely for enviro-wackos), as it seems to be easily and commercially reproduced, but the article says it is the type Sebastopol meadowfoam. The commercial type is Limnanthes alba, or the white meadowfoam.
Sebastopol meadowfoam (Limnanthes vinculans)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limnanthes_vinculans