stratiforma

Stratiforma is a term that may appear in scientific or descriptive writing to convey the sense of “layer-forming,” from Latin strata (layer) and forma (shape). It is not a widely standardized term in core scientific vocabularies, and its exact meaning can vary by author or field. In practice, stratiforma is not a common entry in major reference works, and its use tends to be ambiguous without explicit definition within a text.

In geology and sedimentology, a stratiformal or stratiform-like sense might be used descriptively to indicate features, beds, or deposits that develop in layered fashion. However, the conventional terminology for such phenomena remains stratiform or stratified deposits, and stratiforma would usually be considered nonstandard or contextual rather than a formal technical term. In meteorology, stratiform is the established descriptor for broad, uniform cloud layers; stratiforma is not a standard designation and may reflect a neologism or transliteration artifact in informal writings.

In taxonomy, the suffix -forma appears in some Latinized forms to denote a form or taxon; if Stratiforma were proposed as a genus or species name, it would be governed by the relevant nomenclatural codes and require formal publication with a description.

Because its status as a formal term is unclear, stratiforma should be defined clearly wherever it appears. Related terms include stratiform, stratigraphy, stratification, and strata.