INT. J. BIOL. BIOTECH., 11 (1): 71-83, 2014. ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES OF HERBS OF AGRA VALLEY, PARACHINAR, UPPER KURRAM AGENCY, PAKISTAN Muhammad Ajaib 1 , Syed Khalil Haider 1 , Annam Zikrea 1 and Muhammad Faheem Siddiqui 2 1 Department of Botany, GC University Lahore Pakistan 2 Department of Botany, University of Karachi , Karachi-75270, Pakistan Corresponding author email: mfsiddiqui2011@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Plants have complex biological and cultural relationships with mankind because of their reliance upon floral diversity to fulfill their needs. The present study was conducted in 11 villages of Agra Valley, Parachinar because despite of its rich floral diversity, almost no ethnobotanical research was carried out. 64 herbs of ethnobotanical importance including 1 Pteridophyte, 1 Gymnosperm and 62 Angiosperms having 3 monocot (Poaceae, Liliaceae, Asparagaceae) and 29 dicot families (predominantly Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Papilionaceae) were recorded, of which 31 (48%) single-usage, 14 (22%) two-usage and 19 (30%) multi-usage herbs were consumed as medicinal (40%), culinary (19%), fodder (14%), essential oil (5%), ornamental (4%), fuel (3%) and for miscellaneous purposes (15%). Different parts of plants were utilized either in powdered form, decoction or whole plant extract to cure various diseases. Unfortunately, the knowledge of beneficiary plants initially acquired by trial and error, inherited to generations is lost within the urge of industrialization as no written form of data exists. Therefore, the documentation of plants along with their important uses will be beneficial, not only for the indigenous people of the area but also for the country as a whole. Also, there is a need of sustainable use of the plants to preserve them for future generations and prevent their extinction. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Herbs, Agra Valley, Parachinar, Upper Kurram Agency, Pakistan. INTRODUCTION Ethnobotany is the study of the wide spectrum of complex relationships found between people and plants (Choudhry et al., 2008). In past ethnobotany was thought to be as survey of the aboriginal knowledge of the people of tribal societies. Now it has been assumed that ethnobotany that encompasses all the traditional uses of the plants by humans is a multi-disciplinary science, including food, clothing, shelter religious ceremonies, ornamentation and health care (Schultes, 1992). Plants and human beings have complex biological and cultural relationships (Balick, 1996). Dating far back, mankind has relied upon the floral diversity to fulfill their needs. Initially, the trial and error technique was observed to acquire the knowledge of beneficiary plants, thus securing the list of plants that can be beneficial or harmful to human beings. The initial knowledge was then inherited to generations accommodating further additions and refinements. However, to our misfortune, most of the information gathered by our ancestors is lost within the urge of industrialization. To date a large number of Third World inhabitants rely on plants for food, construction materials, fuel wood, medicine and various other purposes. The long forgotten knowledge can be rescued and preserved by the efforts of the ethnobotanists before it is too late (Rao & Henry, 1997). The present study was conducted keeping in view the significance of rich floral biodiversity in Agra Valley, Parachinar - the administrative head quarter of Kurram Agency. It lies in between 33º20’ to 34º03’ N and 69º50’ to 70º45’ E at an elevation of about 6000 feet above sea level. The climate of Kurram varies at different altitudes and presents striking contrasts from sultry oppressive heat to bitter cold. Summer and spring is quite pleasant. But winter is extremely harsh as it is quite usual that mercury drops upto -10°C. The annual rainfall in Parachinar is 1239.96 mm. Humidity is found higher in morning than found in evening. MATERIAL AND METHODS The materials required included: Notebook, blotting paper, pencil, newspaper, knife, polythene bags, map and plant presser. The ethnobotanical study was carried out in the following steps: Survey of the area: 11 villages were visited on weekly basis and plants alongwith the information regarding their usage were collected from these areas. Information was compiled from the local endemics of the area, i.e. aged man and women, hakims, farmers, pansaries and shopkeepers, etc. through formal as well as informal interviews in Pashto language