Browsing in a dusty used bookstore serendipitously turned up a Cloud Atlas which teaches one how to identify cloud species. Apparently clouds, like plants and animals, have latin species, genus names, and even matrilineage.
One I found online reads like poetry:
"Fibrous, threadlike, white feather clouds of ice crystals, whose form resembles hair curls." (of cirrus)
"Heap cloud with flat basis in the middle or lower level, whose vertical development reminds of the form of towers, cauliflower or cotton." (of cumulus)
In another, the latin roots are broken down,
cumulus to "heap"
stratus to "layer"
cirrus to "curl of hair"
altum to "height, upper air"
nimbus to "rain"
the genera presented and linked to photographs,
and then (and then!) the species are described with all the respect and awe of a witness to the ephemeral
fibratus uncinus spissatus castelanus floccus stratiformis nebulosus lenticularis fractus humilis mediocris congestus | possessing filaments hooked to make thick castle tuft of wool layer appearance nebulous lentil to fracture near ground, small medium to heap up | cirrostratus fibratus cirrus uncinus cirrus spissatus altocumulus castelanus cirrus floccus altocumulus stratiformis stratus nebulosus altocumulus lenticularis cumulus fractus cumulus humilis cumulus mediocris cumulus congestus |
that not being enough, there's varieties to contend with,
intortus vertebratus undulatus radiatus lacunosus duplicatus translucidus perlucidus opacus | to twist having vertebrae having waves being radiant having holes double transparent light pass through shadowy, thick |
and supplements and accessories,
incus mamma virga praecipitatio arcus tuba pileus velum pannus | anvil udder stick a fall bow, arch trumpet cap sail of ship piece of cloth, shred |
Does it get any better than that?
From my own continually growing cloud collection:
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