Thanks kmarch & Tess1.
That is a good question, Tess1.
I use the word spike since I don't know any better. By looking at the wide variety of flowers on orchids I have no clue when to use bud, floret, floweret, blossom (for vanilla?),spike, inflorescence or bloom
I will be happy to use just flower or inflorescence , which should cover most of the types but may occasionally throw in bud(ding) or spik-e(-ing) , which I think are more descriptive of the process of flowering.
Just a thought.