Crossword Genius

Bird first-rate seen climbing locust tree, perhaps (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

robinia

'locust tree perhaps' is the definition.
(locust trees belong to the genus Robinia)

'bird first-rate seen climbing' is the wordplay.
'bird' becomes 'robin' (robin is a kind of bird).
'first rate' becomes 'AI' (resembles A1, old-fashioned slang for very good).
'seen climbing' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters climb up).
'ai' reversed gives 'ia'.
'robin'+'ia'='ROBINIA'

(Other definitions for robinia that I've seen before include "Plant" , "Shrub of the false acacia genus" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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