Crossword Genius

Do big trees make up this place? In a sense; largely not! (4,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gobi desert

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'up this place? in a sense largely not' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'do big trees make' is the wordplay.
'make' indicates an anagram.
'do'+'big'+'trees'='dobigtrees'
'dobigtrees' is an anagram of 'GOBI DESERT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for gobi desert that I've seen before include "desolate landscape" , "Region of Central Asia" , "Mongolian wasteland" , "Asian wilderness" , "dry expanse" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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