A purely symbolic plant (4)

I believe the answer is:

lily

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'a purely symbolic plant' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both plants as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

This is all the clue.

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(Other definitions for lily that I've seen before include "Bulb with showy, typically pendulous flowers" , "Flower of purity" , "Eg, arum, calla" , "'Behold the . . . . of the field'" , "Flower -- girl" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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