Its growth may be dated (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
palm tree
'be dated' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'its growth' is the wordplay.
'its' becomes 'palm' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'growth' becomes 'tree' (I have seen 'Large growth ' mean 'tree' so perhaps 'growth' could also mean 'tree').
'palm'+'tree'='PALM-TREE'
'may' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for palm tree that I've seen before include "Coconut plant" , "One may supply dates" , "plant to yield oil" , "Tropical plant with unbranched trunk" , "Its fruit may be dates or coconuts" .)