Crossword Genius

Plan to have the French national symbol (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

maple

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'national symbol' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'plan to have the french' is the wordplay.
'plan' becomes 'map' (plan can mean a map of something).
'to have' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the french' becomes 'le' ('the' in French).
'map'+'le'='MAPLE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for maple that I've seen before include "Tree associated with Canada" , "Tree with winged seeds" , "Cathedral city in Devon" , "Canadian flag leaf" , "Emblematic tree of Canada" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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