stratiformis

Stratiformis is a Latin adjective meaning layered or formed in layers. In scientific usage it appears as a descriptive epithet in the names of various organisms and in meteorology to denote layered or sheet-like features. The term does not refer to a single taxon or phenomenon but rather signals a layered morphology.

In cloud classification, stratiformis has historically been used to describe cloud forms that develop as broad, continuous sheets or layers. This descriptor emphasizes a planar, spread-out appearance rather than vertical structures. Modern meteorology uses standardized terminology, but stratiformis appears in historical and descriptive literature about cloud morphology.

In biology and related fields, stratiformis is a common specific epithet across diverse taxa, used to indicate layered, stratified, or sheet-like characteristics in the organism. Its use is descriptive and not tied to a single lineage, so several unrelated genera may include a species named stratiformis.

The term derives from Latin strata, meaning layers, and formis, meaning having the form of, together signaling a layered form.