Edwin says that this is indeed veitchii (underside is key to ID) but it has a blue-ish cast. His opinion is that it is not in very good shape.

Yes, agree Achillea ptarmica, Most likely A. p. 'The Pearl'

Bill, right after the holidays, these big box stores discount all their holiday plants that most people probably buy for temporary decoration and then throw out. But I can't resist saving them, so I will look for different colors; red, pink, magenta, white. They are really easy. I also keep an eye out for evergreens that they seem to sell as temporary decorations and are ready to give away after the holidays. (I've purchased nice sized laurels, holly bushes, Osmanthus, etc. that end up in the yard..) Regarding the holiday cacti, I hang mine in a strand of Eastern Hemlocks along with other epiphytes (ferns, bromeliads, etc). I leave them out from April through October and this year, they would have sailed through November so far. BTW, if you do leave them out, I learned two years ago can they are readily eaten by DEER, so, I started hanging them higher in the trees, LOL. I did put them recently into my garage/greenhouse (and we get a lot of winter sun). All are covered in buds. Not sure if it's the cooler temps for longer nights, or both, but it always works.

They are elongated styles or part of the flower's reproductive structure. In this species they can get very elongated - as much as 8 - 10 inches in length! Not unreasonable for the very large flowers this liana produces but very conspicuous with the much smaller remains of the spent flower