Louts break up the plant (5)
I believe the answer is:
lotus
'plant' is the definition.
(lotus is a flowering plant)
'louts break up' is the wordplay.
'break up' indicates an anagram.
'louts' with letters rearranged gives 'LOTUS'.
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for lotus that I've seen before include "Aquatic plant" , "Sacred flower" , "Plant that mythically induces languor" , "Car manufacturer - plant" , "We forget having eaten this" .)