This crossword No. 26004 clues and answers were published on Fri 19 Jul 2013 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 26004 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Flower from Colorado, white one in field : COWSLIP
5-across – Insect crosses screen over swallow : BELIEVE
9-across – Old king finds duck among some swans : HEROD
10-across – Shorten it — otherwise it’s most unpleasant : THORNIEST
11-across – Large bird covers one with masonry : STONEWORK
12-across – Catch criminal flicking a tree creeper : LIANA
13-across – Seal is backing a short breather : SIGIL
15-across – They turn hummingbirds jaws without resistance : OFFBREAKS
18-across – Reptiles moving around end of Pompey’s colonnade : PERISTYLE
19-across – Locates it among uneven steps : SITES
21-across – Uniform with medal and large cluster of flowers : UMBEL
23-across – Undressed by coffee counter, being shameless : BAREFACED
25-across – Grouse about main part with legend : PTARMIGAN
26-across – It’s self-evident — Douglas here wants a kiss first : AXIOM
27-across – After a little rotation, sharpen the file : DATASET
28-across – Oriental seabird follows stormy sea : EASTERN
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Charlie shoots wildly at a pair of anchors : COHOSTS
2-down – Hawk is close to finding headless fish : WARMONGER
3-down – Dipper left in Scottish stream : LADLE
4-down – Exercise book found in ancient battlefield rocks science : PETROLOGY
5-down – Bear with blackbird : BROOK
6-down – Local bosses catch doctor propped up in Rising Sun : LANDLORDS
7-down – René Magritte’s behind purge : ENEMA
8-down – Catches footloose spouse climbing pole : ENTRAPS
14-down – Battle to plug deficit at American research facility : LOSALAMOS
16-down – Turkey might be let out of oven : FREERANGE
17-down – Lark calling beneath arched fold of rock : ANTICLINE
18-down – Chose to be decorated with feathers, parrot’s head included : PLUMPED
20-down – Backing musician attaches wing on rook, say : SIDEMAN
22-down – Crow shot inside court : BOAST
23-down – It follows a heron out of river to breed : BEGET
24-down – Bunting runs out of energy : FLAGS
This crossword has in total 32 where 16 are across and 16 are down.