Plant Identification

[Tuvok]

This is growing in my grass

http://tinypic.com/r/2ljp9p2/9

http://tinypic.com/r/34erz8p/9

Any ideas?

[Tuvok]

I think Chipchopper is right.

Just dug it up - broke the root about 1 ft either side of it - after which the roots started to go deeper.

There are 2 plum trees approx 10ft north and 12ft nw of it.

Although the leaves are darker, comparing them side by side it matches the further away tree.

Have planted it for now in an old hanging basket.

May offer it to the horti department at work.

[Chipchopper]

Thanks for the BA Tuvok, the distance from the plum tree that you mention is easily reachable for those root suckers to come up.
periods of drought can put these shallow rooted trees under stress, which can cause the tree to react by send up suckers in a bid for survival.

[Tuvok]

Tree has got fruit on it - perhaps because I haven't had to cut the grass is why it grew!

[knotweed]

I work for a Japanese knotweed remediation company and whilst I know it's not knotweed, I've asked an experienced horticultural colleague for help in the ID. He's almost 100% sure it's a plum sapling.
Regardless, I wanted to put your mind at rest that it's definitely not Japanese knotweed.