Older variety of berry (5)
I believe the answer is:
elder
'older' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for elder that I've seen before include "could be a church leader" , "Shrub with white flowers and berrylike fruit" , "Berry-bearing shrub" , "Patriarch" , "Older or two" .)