Crossword Genius

Possibly, as a root system lies around our ground (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fibrous

'possibly as a root system' is the definition.
(containing or resembling fibres)

'lies around our ground' is the wordplay.
'lies' becomes 'fibs' (fibbing is a kind of lying).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'ground' indicates an anagram ('grind' the letters into a new form).
'our' with letters rearranged gives 'rou'.
'fibs' placed around 'rou' is 'FIBROUS'.

(Other definitions for fibrous that I've seen before include "Of, or containing, filaments" , "Offering lots of roughage" , "Like roughage" , "Stringy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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