Crossword Genius

A plant left as an example, you told me (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

legume

'a plant' is the definition.
(legume is a kind of plant)

'left as an example you told me' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'as an example' becomes 'eg' (exempli gratia, 'for example' in Latin).
'told' shows a homophone (sound like).
'you' sounds like 'u'.
'l'+'eg'+'u'+'me'='LEGUME'

(Other definitions for legume that I've seen before include "Veg as pea, bean" , "Pea-family crop plant" , "Plant that bears its seeds in a pod" , "mangetout for instance" , "Pea or bean pod" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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