Cattleya keiki

[Ray]

That is not a keiki, it is the normal growth pattern of sympodial orchids like catts.

Each growth is connected to the “mother” via a rhizome . If left connected, the plants form a colony that shares the creation and storage of phytochemical reserves, making it more resilient and capable of growing a blooming better. So called “specimen plants” that frequently get awards tend to be large, robust colonies.

Separating the growths has the opposite effect.