Independent Inquisitor 1332 Saturday May 3Rd 2014

[Kobnut]

I have a possible answer to this, but four of the five groups I am considering highlighting are so obscure that I suspect I am on the wrong track. HAs anyone else found well-known groups of letters to highlight?

[boreas]

I am in the same boat. All obscure apart from one - and i'm not really sure that one is right. Begins with L.
Do you have that one?

[Kobnut]

Thanks Boreas. Yes , that's the one I'm happy about.

[qesue]

Have got all 5 groups and they are all diagonal and 3 letters if that helps

[boreas]

Got them now. Many thanks qesue.

[christamacm]

I have found five groups, two are diagonal, two are horizontal and one vertical, all of three letters in length.

[Kobnut]

Thanks qesue , they fit the bill better than my possibles.

[Laphria]

christamacm - I think you will find all are diagonal and similarly directional.

[Josephine22]

I think I have found them but a bit unsure about one. Does one of them start with a U? Also not sure how 17ac works. Thanks for any help.

[Josephine22]

Just found one beginning with c which i think is probably right, as the answers are now more evenly spaced.

[boreas]

17a
SO (provided) RUS ( almost 'rust,' which is a plant disease).

[rabet]

I have completed the grid and the highlighting but I remain puzzled by the clue for 7D. Could someone please explain how the wordplay works?

[boreas]

Anag of PAL IS bedweaR.

Nighty is the word with superfluous letter Y.

Unjumble to get definition - Thing in coil.

[rabet]

Thanks for that, boreas.

[crosswhit99]

Think Hypnos may have slipped a naughty red herring in there, as all but one of the trigrams are centred on the main diagonal.