This is a bud of my 'Commander in chief'; so what's happening here?
Sure is funny looking...

Happens here occasionally too, usually late season!-Anthony

An abnormality that many lily growers have experienced. And I think most of us have had it happen in differing situations, too, indicating that it can be caused by several "agents".

In fact it was a common result in many of the greenhouse grown asiatic lilies we sold for Easter this year. I think most often it is caused by "damage" resulting from unamenable temperatures during a critical time in floral development.

Same thing has happened here to one of the buds on an OT last year. I figured the heat had something to do with it.

Heat here was the reason and red beetles eating some buds.

Here she is opened...

Betsy--is this the only flower this stem produced? I presume your other Commander 'n Chiefs have normal flowers, is that correct? Sometimes bulb damage during the late fall or winter can cause this as well as extreme condition shifts and temperature shifts from a warm to cold to very warm shift durinjg early budding formation, which I think Rick is referring too. If this plant appears healthy after flowering, disbud it right away. More than likely your plant will be very normal next year. There can be many causes for flower deformity and most are usually the result of some temporary condition.

Lorn,
It had 2 other normal blooms with normal buds; and yes, we've had extreme shifts in temperature. So you and Rick were correct, thanks for answering.