Durable wood left to bend (5)

I believe the answer is:

larch

'durable wood' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'left to bend' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'to bend' becomes 'arch' (arching is a kind of bending).
'l'+'arch'='LARCH'

(Other definitions for larch that I've seen before include "Supplier of timber" , "Coniferous tree with deciduous bright green needles" , "wood" , "Deciduous conifer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.

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