Crossword Genius

Heading for California, company following different boat leaves (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tobacco

'leaves' is the definition.
(tobacco leaves)

'heading for california company following different boat' is the wordplay.
'heading for' indicates taking the first letters.
'company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'following' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'different' indicates anagramming the letters (letters placed in a different order).
The first letter of 'california' is 'c'.
'boat' anagrammed gives 'toba'.
'c'+'co'='cco'
'cco' put after 'toba' is 'TOBACCO'.

(Other definitions for tobacco that I've seen before include "Controversial plant grown commercially" , "Leaves to smoke" , "Nicotiana tabacum" , "Cigarette filling" , "Dried leaves for smoking" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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