Tropical fruit tree has thorn protecting bunch? (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
screw pine
'tropical fruit tree' is the definition.
'screw pine' can be an answer for 'tree' (screw pine is a kind of tree). I'm unsure of the 'tropical fruit' bit.
'thorn protecting bunch?' is the wordplay.
'thorn' becomes 'spine' (synonyms).
'protecting' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are held or protected).
'bunch?' becomes 'crew' ('crew' can be a synonym of 'bunch').
'spine' going around 'crew' is 'SCREW-PINE'.
'has' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for screw pine that I've seen is " Tropical tree".)