Tree bent in the middle (5)

I believe the answer is:

larch

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'tree bent in the middle' is the definition.
'larch' can be an answer for 'tree' (I've seen this before). I am not certain of the 'bent in the middle' bit.

'tree bent in the middle' is the wordplay.
'tree' becomes 'lar' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'bent' becomes 'arched' (arching is a kind of bending).
'in the middle' says to take the centre.
The central letters of 'arched' are 'ch'.
'lar'+'ch'='LARCH'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for larch that I've seen before include "wood" , "Coniferous tree with deciduous bright green needles" , "Supplier of timber" , "Deciduous conifer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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