'Add and return a new plot.
See :func:`PlotDataItem.__init__ <pyqtgraph.PlotDataItem.__init__>` for data arguments
Extra allowed arguments are:
clear    - clear all plots before displaying new data
params   - meta-parameters to associate with this data'

def plot(self, *args, **kargs):

    clear = kargs.get('clear', False)
    params = kargs.get('params', None)
    if clear:
        self.clear()
    item = PlotDataItem(*args, **kargs)
    if (params is None):
        params = {}
    self.addItem(item, params=params)
    return item
