Crossword Genius

Gypsum dog framed by a flowering plant (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alabaster

'gypsum' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'dog framed by a flowering plant' is the wordplay.
'dog' becomes 'lab' (short for labrador).
'framed by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'flowering plant' becomes 'aster' (aster is a kind of flowering plant).
'a'+'aster'='aaster'
'lab' put into 'aaster' is 'ALABASTER'.

(Other definitions for alabaster that I've seen before include "White substance" , "Type of gypsum" , "White or translucent mineral" , "statuary material?" , "White ornamental stone" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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