Hollowed out chunky squash plant (7)
I believe the answer is:
cypress
'plant' is the definition.
The answer is an example.
'hollowed out chunky squash' is the wordplay.
'hollowed out' suggests removing the centre.
'squash' becomes 'press' (I've seen this in other clues).
'chunky' with its middle taken out is 'cy'.
'cy'+'press'='CYPRESS'
(Other definitions for cypress that I've seen before include "symbol of death" , "Tree with funereal associations" , "Conifer, symbol of mourning" , "Dark-leaved conifer" , "Widely cultivated conifer" .)