Crossword Genius

Plant beginning to die - is mistake admitted? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

derris

'plant' is the definition.
(derris is a kind of plant)

'beginning to die is mistake admitted?' is the wordplay.
'beginning to' indicates taking the first letters.
'mistake' becomes 'err' ('err' can be a synonym of 'mistake'**).
'admitted?' is an insertion indicator.
The first letter of 'die' is 'd'.
'd'+'is'='dis'
'dis' placed around 'err' is 'DERRIS'.

(Other definitions for derris that I've seen before include "lethal powder" , "Woody plant" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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