Crossword Genius

Variety of fruit trees stripped (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

range

'variety' is the definition.
(range can mean a wide variety)

'fruit trees stripped' is the wordplay.
'fruit trees' becomes 'oranges' (orange is a kind of fruit tree).
'stripped' means to look at the middle letters (outside letters removed).
The middle of 'oranges' is 'RANGE'.

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for range that I've seen before include "Distance aircraft can travel" , "Expanse" , "Old song: ''Home on the . . . . .''" , "Oven" , "Limits the area" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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