Return again, look closely and start cutting surface-covering plant (7)
I believe the answer is:
creeper
'plant' is the definition.
(I know that creeper is a type of tracheophyte)
'return again look closely and start cutting' is the wordplay.
'return' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'again' becomes 're' (prefix meaning 'again').
'look closely' becomes 'peer' (I've seen this before).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'start' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'cutting' is 'c'.
're'+'peer'='repeer'
'repeer' backwards is 'reeper'.
'reeper' put after 'c' is 'CREEPER'.
'surface-covering' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for creeper that I've seen before include "low-lying plant" , "one going up the wall after 8 [STATE = VIRGINIA]" , "Variety of plant" , "Climbing plant" , "Reptile" .)