Crossword Genius

Tips of white flower about to become something much darker? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

werewolf

'become something much darker?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'tips of white flower about' is the wordplay.
'tips of' means to remove the middle letters.
'about' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'white' with its middle taken out is 'we'.
'flower' written backwards gives 'rewolf'.
'we'+'rewolf'='WEREWOLF'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for werewolf that I've seen before include "Person beleived to be able to assume lupine form" , "A monster able to change from human into a rapacious animal" , "Full moon howler" , "Hairy beast" , "Human who turns lupine at the full moon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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