Cattleya blc mildred Hollingsworth, is this a bloom sheath?
 

Hi, my name is Keith and it's been awhile since I have posted anything. I have this plant that I bought as a bare root plant in October 2011. I think this is just the second leaf coming out but usually they sprout them much earlier than this. I haven't ever had a catt bloom for me so that's why I'm asking.

Looks like a bloom sheath. Sheathes will be thinner and more pliable than leaves. I can't tell from the picture how thick or thin that is, but I'm sure you can easily tell in person.

I think I can tell down in the bract where the pseudobulb ends and the leaf begins, which makes the smaller thing coming out much too small to be a leaf, but just the right size for a sheath.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, it's got a different texture than a leaf so you're probably right.