The Upper Branches

The upper branches crossword clue. A big one crossword question in The Courier-Mail newspaper on Aug 9, 2017. 7 letters.

Answer: TREETOP

In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, supporting branches and leaves in most species. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are usable as lumber or plants above a specified height. Trees are not a taxonomic group but include a variety of plant species that have independently evolved a woody trunk and branches as a way to tower above other plants to compete for sunlight.

She gritted her teeth in pain and sucked in a breath as she started to fall again. She glimpsed demons hovering a short distance away over an opening in the jungle. They looked like massive, angry hornets before disappearing from her line of sight. A branch grabbed her arm this time and threw her back over the treetops. This time, she faced a different direction and saw a sprawling palace the size of a mall.