Crossword Genius

Held up flow or flower (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stemmed

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'held up' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stemmed that I've seen before include "like busy Lizzie?" , "Arose or derived from" , "Brought to a standstill" , "Stopped (a flow)" , "Originated from" .)

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