Crossword Genius

Shrub, or a flower in Africa, chopped (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

anil

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

'a flower in africa chopped' is the wordplay.
'flower in africa' becomes 'nile' (something which flows in Africa).
'chopped' means to remove the last letter.
'nile' with its last letter taken off is 'nil'.
'a'+'nil'='ANIL'

'or' is the link.

(Other definitions for anil that I've seen before include "Shrub providing indigo" , "Indigo (plant or dye)" , "West Indian shrub, source of indigo" , "Colouring" , "Shrub yielding indigo" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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