Listener Crossword 4467: Solution Notes
Theme of the Day by Kea
Puzzle explanation
The unclued entries are types of, or words for, “chrysanthemum”, as explained below. The entry at 15 had to be POMPOM, not POMPON, so that the letters in asterisked cells formed CHRYSANTHEMUM. The puzzle was published on 9 September, which is Chrysanthemum Day in Japan.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Clockwise | ||
| 1 | CATENAS | CAT + SANE < |
| 2 | PUPARIA | ARIA after PUP |
| 3 | RETIARY | RETRY around AI < |
| 6 | ALMAINE | MAIN in ALE |
| 7 | BUTTON | (button chrysanthemum with small round flowers) |
| 8 | AUSPICE | AU + SPICE |
| 10 | CHEATER | C + HEATER |
| 11 | SOREXES | SORE + EXES overlapping at E |
| 12 | DECOKED | O in DECKED |
| 13 | STAW | S(ain)T A(ndre)W |
| 15 | POMPOM | (chrysanthemum with small tightly clustered petals) |
| 16 | CLUSIAS | C(o)L(o)U(r)S (P)I(c)A(s)S(o) |
| 17 | YOLANDA | (AVON LADY) * − V |
| 18 | TIMIDER | TIER around MID |
| 19 | PRATTLE | PR + ATTLE(e) |
| 23 | KOREAN | (Korean chrysanthemum, a late-flowering hybrid) |
| Anticlockwise | ||
| 1 | CORN MARIGOLD | (a yellow cornfield chrysanthemum) |
| 2 | PARAPINEAL | PAL around (A + RAPINE) |
| 4 | BRUT | R in BUT |
| 5 | NEPENTHEAN | (submari)NE PEN THE AN(napolis) |
| 7 | BLATANTLY | (NATTY BALL) * |
| 9 | DUUMVIRATE | (V(eal) + IRATE) after DU(r)UM |
| 11 | SHASTA DAISY | (Chrysanthemum maximum with large daisy-like flowers) |
| 14 | ITERATIONS | N in (EAR + OTITIS) * |
| 16 | COPACETIC | COP + ACETIC |
| 17 | YELLOW OX-EYE | (wild chrysanthemum with a yellow disc and white rays) |
| 19 | PHILOSOPHES | PHI + LOSS around HOPE * |
| 20 | STADDAS | ST + ADD + ÅS |
| 21 | EMPTIER | (PR around TIE) after ’EM |
| 22 | UPMAKERS | (MUSK PEAR) * |