Sort of tree, hawthorn, Yank mentioned (5)
I believe the answer is:
maple
'sort of tree' is the definition.
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for maple that I've seen before include "Tree of Acer genus" , "Canadian flag leaf" , "Ample sort of tree" , "Tree of the sycamore family" , "Tree; sugar from it" .)