Crossword Genius

Plant, during historical period, run inside spy organisation (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cineraria

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

'plant' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'during historical period run inside spy organisation' is the wordplay.
'during' becomes 'in' (I've seen this in other clues).
'historical period' becomes 'era' (I've seen this before).
'run' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'inside' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'spy organisation' becomes 'cia' (I've seen this in other clues).
'in'+'era'+'r'='inerar'
'inerar' placed inside 'cia' is 'CINERARIA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cineraria that I've seen before include "Composite plant" , "Daisy" , "found in garden centre" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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