Plant that grows as a sort of tree out East (4)
I believe the answer is:
geum
'plant that grows as a sort' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both plants as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'tree out east' is the wordplay.
'tree' becomes 'gum' (gum is a kind of tree**).
'out' is an insertion indicator.
'east' becomes 'e' ('E' can be a synonym of 'east').
'gum' going around 'e' is 'GEUM'.
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for geum that I've seen before include "Lease to a subtenant" , "Plant, avens" .)