Crossword Genius

Take care of article on regular basis in part of plant (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tendril

'part of plant' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'take care of article on regular basis' is the wordplay.
'take care of' becomes 'tend' (tending is a kind of taking care of).
'on regular basis' means one should take alternating letters (letters selected at regular intervals).
The alternate letters of 'article' are 'ril'.
'tend'+'ril'='TENDRIL'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for tendril that I've seen before include "Climbing plant's gripper" , "Slender thread-like appendage of a plant" , "Part of plant that clings for support" , "Slender structure on a twining plant" , "shoot to gain support" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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