Crossword Genius

Shrub in grand forest on borders of India (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gardenia

'shrub' is the definition.
(gardenia is a kind of shrub)

'grand forest on borders of india' is the wordplay.
'grand' becomes 'G' (synonyms).
'forest' becomes 'arden' (forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'borders of' suggests removing the centre.
'india' with its middle removed is 'ia'.
'g'+'arden'+'ia'='GARDENIA'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for gardenia that I've seen before include "Waxlike flower" , "Bad drainage produces a fragrant flower" , "Shrub with fragrant flowers - in Grade A (anag)" , "Drainage (anag) -- plant" , "Fragrant tree or shrub" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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