| AGRIMONY | From Greek for "poppy", thought due to its ancient use as a sedative, a plant with spikes of yellow flowers, hence its other names including church steeples, fairy wand and sticklewort (8) |
| SALVIA | Velvety-leaved herb of smudge stick, potager or Paxo whose name, from "safe, save, secure", reflects its ancient use as a healing plant and/or perceived medicinal properties (6) |
| MULLEIN | Plant with spikes of yellow flowers |
| ACACIA | Thorny tree with spikes of yellow or white flowers (6) |
| ENUNCIATES | Clearly expresses fanciful ancient use (10) |
| MAIDEN | Sharing its ancient root with Gaelic for "boy, servant, son", a word for a youngster of either sex originally, later a girl or unmarried woman; a clothes-horse; a racehorse without a victory; a washin |
| DYERSROCKET | Plant with spikes of yellowish-green flowers, known since Neolithic times as the source of a yellow colouring called weld (5,6) |
| NEMBUTAL | Trade name of the drug pentobarbital, a barbiturate which can be used as a sedative or, for animals, in preparation for surgery |
| AARONSROD | A widespread Eurasian plant, with woolly leaves and tall erect spikes of yellow flowers (6,3) |
| PAPER | Writing material that derives its name from its ancient Egyptian plant of origin; a broadsheet; or, an essay (5) |
| LUPIN | Cottage garden perennial plant with spikes of flowers in all colours growing in all parts of the world, notably the shores of Lake Tekapo in New Zealand (5) |
| CATMINT | Plant with spikes of purple flowers and scented leaves which are attractive to felines (7) |
| SNAPDRAGON | Plant with spikes of showy white, yellow, pink, red or purplish flowers, also called antirrhinum (10) |
| VALERIAN | The name of a Roman emperor and a herb used as a sedative (8) |
| LILY | --- of the valley, garden plant with spikes of white bell-shaped fragrant flowers (4) |
| GOLDENROD | Plant with spikes of small yellow flowers (9) |
| ASPHODEL | Southern European plant with spikes of white or yellow flowers (8) |
| HYSSOP | Aromatic plant with spikes of small, blue flowers whose leaves are used in cooking (6) |
| BARBITURATE | A type of depressant drug used as a sedative or sleeping pill (11) |
| ISIS | Alternative name for part of the River Thames, derived from its ancient name, Tamesis (4) |
