Tree with a "slippery" variety (3)
I believe the answer is:
elm
'tree with a slippery variety' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for elm that I've seen before include "Tree of the genus Ulmus" , "Source of timber" , "wooden" , "Leaving body" , "Strange tree for Mel" .)