Dried stalks starting slowly to rot away with spoliation (6)
I believe the answer is:
straws
'dried stalks' is the definition.
'straws' can be an answer for 'stalks' ('straw' can be a synonym of 'stalk'). I am not certain of the 'dried' bit.
'starting slowly to rot away with spoliation' is the wordplay.
'starting' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'slowly to rot away with spoliation' is 'STRAWS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for straws that I've seen before include "Grass stems after grain is removed" , "In the wind, they are signs or portents" , "Thin tubes to suck up liquid" , "are drawn thusto drink!" , "Tubes used to suck liquids" .)