What does the cryptic crossword clue "Lily, opera star, missing start of season (5)" mean?

The definition is "Lily". The wordplay uses a deletion. CALLA (deletion) = CALLA; definition: "Lily," The answer is CALLA.

Lily, opera star, missing start of season (5)

Times Cryptic #28627 | 2 Down | 2023-06-12 flower