Crossword Genius

Flower found in the middle of unctuous sauce (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tulip

'flower' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'the middle of unctuous sauce' is the wordplay.
'the middle of' indicates the central letters.
'sauce' becomes 'lip' (I've seen this before).
The middle of 'unctuous' is 'tu'.
'tu'+'lip'='TULIP'

'found in' is the link.

(Other definitions for tulip that I've seen before include "Flower - lit up (anag)" , "Bulb producing a single showy flower" , "Spring-flowering plant" , "Bloomer" , "Plant at the centre of the Dutch financial bubble of 1637" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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