Orchidsarefun- Do you grow many Cattleya alliance orchids? I didnt really know at first what you meant about little fingernails but I think I do now. On Catts, Laelias, Sophronitis, etc. The new growth point does look like a tiny fingernail in the very first stages after the new growth starts to grow away from the pbulb. I would take a pic of one of mine and post it if I was home. So yes I think they look like little fingernails too.