Dried stalks (5)
I believe the answer is:
straw
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">dried stalks</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for straw that I've seen before include "remnant of harvest" , "It's clutched at in desperation" , "In the wind, it's an indication" , "Dried grain stalks" , "trifle" .)