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Motel site sporting evergreen shrub (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mistletoe

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'evergreen shrub' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both plants as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'motel site sporting' is the wordplay.
'sporting' indicates anagramming the letters.
'motel'+'site'='motelsite'
'motelsite' with letters rearranged gives 'MISTLETOE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mistletoe that I've seen before include "Kissed-under plant" , "put up for a Christmas function?" , "Viscum album, much sought-after around Christmas" , "Evergreen plant" , "Valley of the -, best seller by Jacqueline Susann" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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