The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word REEDS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
R
E
E
D
S
More clues leading to the result REEDS
- Grasses on Detective Sergeant following end of case
- Music-makers overwhelmed by greed sometimes
- Reportedly studies organ stops
- Thatcher’s material delivered by communists around start of election
- Recites aloud instrumental parts?
- Ginger squirrels principally eating English plants
- Liverpool, for example, welcomes European players
- Rushes about with English detective
- Reportedly studies water plants
- Most of the snooker balls cover end of table in plants
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "plants" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case plants = reeds.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does REEDS mean?
REEDS noun- Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.
- The hollow stem of these plants.
- Part of the mouthpiece of certain woodwind instruments, comprising a thin piece of wood or metal which shakes very quickly to produce sound when a musician blows over it.
- A musical instrument such as the clarinet or oboe, which produces sound when a musician blows on the reed.
- A comb-like part of a beater for beating the weft when weaving.
- A piece of whalebone or similar for stiffening the skirt or waist of a woman's dress.
- Reeding.
- A tube containing the train of powder for igniting the charge in blasting.
- Straw prepared for thatching a roof.
- A missile weapon.
- A measuring rod.
- To thatch.
- To mill or mint with reeding.
- The fourth stomach of a ruminant; rennet.