Crossword Genius

Laze about in empty Australia bush (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

azalea

'bush' is the definition.
(azalea is a kind of bush)

'laze about in empty australia' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates anagramming the letters.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'empty' means to remove the middle letters.
'australia' with its centre removed is 'aa'.
'laze' anagrammed gives 'zale'.
'zale' going within 'aa' is 'AZALEA'.

(Other definitions for azalea that I've seen before include "Garden shrub" , "Ericaceous plant" , "Rhododendron subgenus" , "Shrub with brightly coloured flowers" , "Bright-flowered shrub" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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