Crossword Genius

Male bird and plant (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mandrake

'plant' is the definition.
(mandrake is a kind of plant)

'male bird' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'man' (man is a kind of male).
'bird' becomes 'drake' (drake is a kind of bird).
'man'+'drake'='MANDRAKE'

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for mandrake that I've seen before include "Root used in medicine" , "Poisonous plant with large forked root" , "Eurasian plant with purplish flowers" , "Plant with forked root used in magic" , "Plant once believed to shriek when pulled up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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