Crossword Genius

Father’s taking motorway in vast plain (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pampas

'vast plain' is the definition.
(the Pampas are South American plains)

'father's taking motorway' is the wordplay.
'father's' becomes 'papas' (papa is a kind of father).
'taking' is an insertion indicator.
'motorway' becomes 'M' (as in motorway names - Mp, Ma etc).
'papas' placed around 'm' is 'PAMPAS'.

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for pampas that I've seen before include "Plains with grass" , "Treeless plain(s)" , "Vast plains of South America" , "South American plain" , "Prairies (with grass)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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