A flowery pet name (5)

I believe the answer is:

petal

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'a flowery pet name' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.

'pet name' is the wordplay.
'name' becomes 'al' ().
'pet'+'al'='PETAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for petal that I've seen before include "Flower part seen on plate" , "Corolla leaf" , "Floral feature" , "Bit of blooming" , "Coloured segment of flower" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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