Heaven Scent Redolence possible flower spike...

[Roberta]

Looks like a root. Sometimes they do "grow the wrong way". Remember, these are epiphytes - evolved to grow on trees and their branches. So all roots don't necessarily go down, they can go in any direction. When you water you can let some hit the emerging aerial root. Also... when was this plant last potted? If the medium is bad, the plant may send roots in other directions gasping for air.