Crossword Genius

Snake holed up in plant of death (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

asphodel

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'plant of death' is the definition.
'asphodel' can be an answer for 'plant' (type of flower). I'm not certain of the 'of death' bit.

'snake holed up in' is the wordplay.
'snake' becomes 'asp' (asp is a kind of snake).
'up' is an anagram indicator (letters get chucked up).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'holed' with letters rearranged gives 'hodel'.
'asp' going inside 'hodel' is 'ASPHODEL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for asphodel that I've seen before include "Lily-like plant, the flower of death to ancient Greeks" , "blooms from Elysian fields" , "Flower of lily family - old heaps (anag)" , "Plant of lily family - lop heads (anag)" , "Lad hopes (anag) - flower" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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