Crossword Genius

Progenitors going up and down plain (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

apparent

'plain' is the definition.
(I know that plain can be written as apparent)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for apparent that I've seen before include "Quite obvious and clear" , "Noticeable" , "as such an heir" , "Ostensible, seeming" , "See 1" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Times.
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