At the bottom I'm including a link to a decent picture. Cattleyas are like a vine. The rhizome is like the stem of the vine and the pseudo-bulbs are like the leaves on a vine. The growing end of the rhizome is called the "lead" as in leading edge. The rhizome can split in a "y" to form two leads or more. Some cattleyas tend to grow along with one lead others may easily form multiple leads. The plant will grow one or two new pseudo-bulbs on the leading edge of the rhizome each year. On some orchids only the very last pseudo-bulb will bloom. On others every new pseudo-bulb can bloom. Only new pseudo-bulbs from that years growth can bloom and they only bloom once. On top of the new pseudo-bulb in the crease of the leaf a sheath may form. It looks like a smaller leaf. When it's time for buds to form, they will form inside that sheath and break out of the sheath as they grow larger. Not all sheaths will bloom and not every new pseudo-bulb will produce a sheath. Some cattleyas are strong, reliable bloomers and some aren't. As a pseudo-bulb grows, it out grows the original outer covering and that material dries up and turns brown. Some people refer to that covering as a sheath also but the more proper name is "sarong". That material won't hurt the plant but most growers peel it off because insects can hide under it. Oh, one other part are the "eyes". The "eyes" are the little tear drop looking part at the bottom of the pseudo-bulb. There are usually two although there can be three. The eyes are where the continuation of the rhizome and the new pseudo-bulbs form from. If you have any other specific questions, let us know.
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