The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided the tree know as Star Anise or Yellow Anise does not need to be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
One important reason for the decision is that this species is being protected as a result of the purchase of conservation lands that protect its habitat. The plant is listed as endangered by state environmental officials.
Locally the plant is found throughout the Marion Creek Basin in northeast Polk County .
This is one of several species that were protected by the efforts of Sierra Club and other conservation organizations and the late County Commissioner Ernie Caldwell to protect the area..
Some of the first sites purchased under the Polk County Environmental Lands Program were in that basin and were supplemented by other lands purchased by the South Florida Water Management District.