Very weird growth of my Catt (L) purpurata.

[Moody2]

I’ve seen something similar on 2 Cattleya alliance hybrids this spring. Both were first bloom plants. Growths were mature or nearly mature. Neither had any apparent sheath. On the first, the buds pushed out far enough to open and display properly. On the second, the flowers are attempting to open, but they haven’t cleared the leaf area enough. I’ll wait for a second blooming to see if this is genetic or cultural.