Gooey stuff coming from small tree (5)

I believe the answer is:

slime

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'gooey stuff' is the definition.

'small tree' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 'slim' ('slim' can be similar in meaning to 'small').
'tree' becomes 'e' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'slim'+'e'='SLIME'

'coming from' acts as a link.

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(Other definitions for slime that I've seen before include "Gooey seeping stuff" , "Sludge, gloop" , "Nasty slippery stuff" , "Goo" , "could make things sticky" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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