Contents: Introduction. 1. The algae - brief history. 2. Climate. 3. Hydrology. 4. Taxonomy. 5. Over view. 6. Identification and description of the algal taxa of Leh. 7. Bibliography. 9. Plates. 9. Index.

From the preface: "This is the first ever record of the algal flora of Ladakh--a mystic land, considered as the cold desert in the Himalayas. This is a very informative and useful contribution to the literature since nothing has been published so far on the algae of this region. Original camera lucida diagrams from the actual field specimens and microphotographs add to the value of this book. This book will be useful for the researchers, algologists, botanists, fishery scientists, planners and the common man, alike, who are interesting in finding some solutions to the otherwise tough water quality and conservation problems.

"In the face of the rapidly changing concepts of algal taxonomy and identification, the system of classification used herein is the most modern. It attempts to follow the plan by adopting all the available informations and different views currently in vogue about the arrangement of different phyla, classes and orders of the algal taxa known till today. A taxonomic key has also been provided with broad outlines and general characters about the hierarchial classification and definitive chosen characters about the genera and species. The key shall be of great help and use for anyone interested in the identification of algal species. "[Shashi Kant is Professor of Botany, University of Jammu.Pushp Gupta is Head, Department of Botany, Government College for Women, Jammu.]