Striped Beets

It doesn't look like a typical beet but that's because it's not. I counted at least 13 different sprouts. I had to cut up the beet to remove the areas that were not quite right. There were gaps in the root where the individual plants were growing together.

I think something similar happened to some carrots last year. It ended up splitting apart and little sugar ants were eating the fluid that was flowing from the cracks.

The same thing happens with lots of plants. Some plants like to mix with other plants even taking over the plants at times so they can live. The strangler fig is one of those who loves to wrap itself around it's victim. Similarly it too hosts critters. Not necessarily ants but other critters use the eventual hollow.