Stately trees (4)
I believe the answer is:
elms
'stately trees' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for elms that I've seen before include "Trees (of late, prone to disease)" , "rugged feature of country churchyard" , "Trees sound like Cockney steering devices" , "Deciduous trees with rough serrated leaves" , "may have many leaves" .)