Runaway seedling or new growth?

[mackarov]

I purchased this Bulbophyllum plant a few months ago and shortly there after noticed this small green growth near/under one of the pseudobulbs. I thought it to be a new growth or perhaps the early start of a flower spike but it is not growing at nearly the same rate as the rest of the plant which has produced 3 1"+ long new leads in a few weeks. I am starting to question if this might be a really small orchid just getting its way started semi-naturally. To give an estimate of its current size the white rod in the bottom left of the 2nd picture is 2.5# fishing thread. Thanks for any advice.

[lepetitmartien]

Aren't you sure it's not a new PB coming out?

[mackarov]

The plant had no new growths when purchased, I found this growth 6-8 weeks ago. Three weeks ago the plant started new growths and all 3 new growths have grown at least 1" long. This tiny "growth" pictured has grown very little to none in the full 6-8 weeks since found. It also does not look like the this plants flower spikes or new growths at that size.

[mackarov]

Here are some updated pictures of the growth, while it does seem to be coming from the underside of a PSB the leaf count on the growth is not consistent with the host Bulbophyllum plant. 3-4 distinct leaves can be seen on images, sorry the one is so washed out by the flash. Even if no one can confirm or deny, time will tell.

[mackarov]

Can someone please compare this with the gardenweb forum titled "orchid seedling germinated on my tree!" The pictures on his Flickr display some similar growths, as well as an interesting approach to growing orchids.

[lepetitmartien]

It's not new, in fact it was the only non vegetative way known until in vitro propagation was used by Vacherot-Lecoufle.

[mackarov]

Here is an updated photograph of the growth/plant.