Cryptic crossword No 3,888
Sun 6 Sep 2026, set byPatanoia
Special Instructions: Many thanks to Heron/Turnstone and Prak/Void for their very generous feedback and suggestions. However, all errors and brazen liberties are my own.
Across
- International relief agency promoting "women power" softly in Grand Opening (10)
- Like an apple? Eat posh tartlet's crust - somehow close but not a winner (6,2,3,4)
- Concern about including tip of aloe plant (6)
- One grain nurtures fellow left at sea (6)
- Occurrence regularly seen in picnic: wild peanut (8)
- Hoodlum unwound (too much in retrospect) with joke or tricky problem (5,3,2,5)
- Itch from Euphorbia, shedding sap externally (4)
- Worn out, pine perhaps for Mackintosh's sweet old partner (8)
- 99 conifers, potentially, or 101 (4)
- Gluten intolerant and bucking the trend? (7,3,5)
- Bananas run out, Ned sent on thorough search, leaving this (2,5,8)
- Supervision of single person takes a long time; multiple people, little time (10)
Down
- Strange amber tinge after removing head of Brussels Sprout (9)
- Extract from berry de rigueur for certain cup, of course (5)
- Core component of both ear tincture and Quiche Artichaut (5)
- Weed with tops of thorns, highly irritating spikes, treacherous lacerating edges (7)
- South American acorn, cooked with pear buds after shucking (9)
- Old Romanian seed sent as a hybrid... (7)
- ...grape seed with introduction of nitric oxide (5)
- Disliked tree on Uruguayan borders bearing central ingredient of flautas (9)
- Herpetologist went back carrying amphibians (5)
- Common cleaning agent is mostly fruit peel, soy kernel and carbon, stored in glasses (7)
- The leaders of Rush and Supergrass assembled in killer band (9)
- Expert on canvas weaving appreciates tropical undergrowth, primarily, without leaves (7)
- Issue with ear of corn: steaming takes bloody ages, firstly; nasty, secondarily (7)
- Queen leaves chestnut in middle of veggies, banging on the bean (7)
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