Crossword Genius

In exercise barrel in auditorium starts to show flower (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

petunia

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'flower' is the definition.
(petunia is a kind of flower)

'in exercise barrel in auditorium starts to' is the wordplay.
'in exercise' becomes 'pe' (Physical Education. I am not sure about the 'in' bit.).
'barrel' becomes 'tun' (tun is a kind of barrel).
'starts to' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letters of 'in auditorium' is 'ia'.
'pe'+'tun'+'ia'='PETUNIA'

'show' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for petunia that I've seen before include "Flowering plant" , "Popular plant for baskets" , "Flower much used in hanging baskets" , "Plant cultivated for its white, pink, blue or purple funnel-shaped flowers" , "Garden plant, originally from S. America" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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