How to tell a spike from a growth?

[StanTheMan]

Hey everyone, basically that's the question. On my free do-nothing I'm sometimes watching my orchids to the smallest detail, and I see a few sprouts on my Masdevallia. Unlike Phalaenopsis, there's not much discussion going around on how to tell a spike from a growth on early stages. I know time will tell, but it's just a "penny for my thought" ahaha.

Thanks in advance,

Stan.