Crossword Genius

Plant that stings adults cuts little child (5-2-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

touch-me-not

'plant' is the definition.
(touch-me-not is a kind of plant)

'that stings adults cuts little child' is the wordplay.
'that stings' becomes 'ouch' (that hurts!).
'adults' becomes 'men' (men are adults).
'cuts' means one lot of letters goes inside another (some letters cut their way into a word).
'little child' becomes 'tot' (informal term for a young child).
'ouch'+'men'='ouchmen'
'ouchmen' put inside 'tot' is 'TOUCH-ME-NOT'.

(Another definition for touch-me-not that I've seen is " Plant with seed pods springing open if handled".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app