Flowers of the Se La - Alpine Plants of NW Arunachal Pradesh. 2020. (Symbolae Bot. Upsalienes,40). illus. (col.). 136 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.

This book is a pictorial guide to the alpine flora of the surroundings of the Se La (Se pass) in northwest Arunachal Pradesh in NE India. It covers altitudes from 3500 to 4500 m, with particular reference to 4000 to 4300 m. It depicts in colour 280 species in 128 genera with emphasis on alpine herbs. Woody plants, ferns and graminoids are less well represented.

As the Se La is the only alpine area in Arunachal Pradesh that is
accessible by road, it is far better known than the central and eastern parts of the state. Nevertheless many plants have been encountered here during the past decade that had not been previously reported from Arunachal Pradesh or even from India, including 12 species new to science. This book reports 20 further novelties for India. For a few species a conclusive determination has not been possible, at times because of lack of information or expertise, but a couple may belong in the category of as yet undescribed plants. Notes on the taxonomy of a few critical or misunderstood species are given.

The main aim is to satisfy the need for a quick reference guide to the flora
of the Se La, for students, researchers, tourists, nature conservation bodies
and local naturalists. By highlighting some gaps in current knowledge, we
hope to encourage other botanists to dig further where we have left off.

The phytogeographical connections of the flora lie to the west and north,
while being surprisingly different from central and eastern Arunachal
Pradesh. About a third of the species have their eastern-most occurrences in the Se La area. Rhodiola sedoides, Impatiens pyrorhiza, Swertia nana and Saussurea solaris (the latter described in this volume) have so far been found only at Se La, and severaL others are restricted to the immediate neighbourhoods N and W of the Tawang district: Cona (S Tibet) and/or NE Bhutan.