The Quran

Preface

وَفِي الأَرضِ قِطَعٌ مُتَجاوِراتٌ وَجَنّاتٌ مِن أَعنابٍ وَزَرعٌ وَنَخيلٌ صِنوانٌ وَغَيرُ صِنوانٍ يُسقىٰ بِماءٍ واحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعضَها عَلىٰ بَعضٍ فِي الأُكُلِ ۚ إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِقَومٍ يَعقِلونَ

Yusuf Ali

And in the earth are tracts (Diverse though) neighbouring, and gardens of vines and fields sown with corn, and palm trees - growing¹ out of single roots or otherwise: watered with the same water, yet some of them We make more excellent than others to eat.² Behold, verily in these things there are signs for those who understand!

Does “growing out of single roots or otherwise” qualify “palm trees” or “vines” and “corn” as well? The former construction is adopted by the classical Commentators: in which case the reference is to the fact either that two or more palm trees occasionally grow out of a single root, or that palm, trees grow sometimes as odd trees and sometimes in great thick clusters. If the latter construction is adopted, the reference would, be to the fact that date palm (and palms generally) and some other plants arise out of a single taproot, while the majority of trees arise out of a network of roots that spread out extensively. Here is adaptation to soil and water conditions?another Sign or wonder of Creation.
The date palm, the crops of food-grains, and the grapevine are all fed by the same kind of water, yet how different the harvests which they yield! And that applies to all vegetation. The fruit or eatable produce may vary in shape, size, colour, flavour, etc., in endless variety.