Thank you Bernie and Elle.
Couldn't believe it was an anagram - wanted it to be an alternative spelling of orpine, a purple plant. Sometimes it really is an anagram...
23a: 'bliss'... (Arthur Bliss , English composer)
Presumably the other clues are anagrams and mean 'bliss'?
Got to go to the vets now...will be thinking about it while we are out!