ULLAH AND ULLAH (2016), FUUAST J. BIOL., 6(2): 265-271 VASCULAR PLANT DIVERSITY IN LANDI KOTAL VALLEY, KHYBER AGENCY, PAKISTAN ASAD ULLAH 1 AND SAFEER ULLAH 2 1 Centre of Plant Biodiversity, University of Peshawar, 2 Department ofBotany,Islamia College Peshawar 2 Corresponding author e-mail: asadbotanist@yahoo.com Abstract The present study recorded the vascular Flora of Landi Kotal Valley, Khyber Agency. The whole area was surveyed during the year 2012-2013 and a total of 94 plant species distributed in 85 genera and 48 families were recorded from the research area. Out of 94 species, 5 species belonging to 5 genera and 4 families were Monocots while the rest of the 89 species belonging to 80 genera and 44 families were Dicots. Maximum genera and species were in case of Asteraceae i.e. 10 genera being (11.76 %) and 12 species being (12.77 %) of the total genera and species. Asteraceae is followed by Lamiaceae with 7 genera being (8.24 %) and 7 species being (7.45 %) and Papilionaceae having 5 genera (5.88 %) and 6 species (6.38 %), which is then followed by Solanaceae having 4 genera (4.71 %) and 6 species (6.38 %). Solanaceae is followed by Mimosaceae with 3 genera (3.53 %) and 4 species (4.25 %) followed by Boraginaceae and Zygophyllaceae represented by 3 genera and 3 species each. The habitof plant species showed that 53.19 % were herbs, 23.40 % shrubs, 2.12 % subshrubs, 13.82 % trees, 1.06 % corms, 1.06 % bulbs, 2.12 % succulents, 1.06 % grass and 2.12 % climbers. According to life form observed, the perennials were 47.87 %, deciduous 10.63 %, evergreen 8.51 %, annuals 31. 91 % and biennials were 1.06 %. Introduction The reason for the name of Khyber Agency is the historical Khyber Pass, which is known worldwide. The Khyber Pass is a source of connection of Central Asia and Afghanistan. The importance of this Pass is recognized worldwide and historians are taking interest in this Pass due to its geographical location and importance. Khyber Agency is located in FATA covering an area of 2576 km 2 with a population of 546,730. The administrative headquarter of agency is situated in Peshawar. It is stretched from 33 0 45 / to 34 0 20 / North latitudes and 70 0 27 / to 71 0 32 / East longitudes.Topographically most part of the area is consisting of hills with sporadic valley floorings. The ranges of Kohe-Suafid, which are extensions of Hindukush range are meeting here and it is the lower end of Pamir in the upper limits.Although the Rivers of Kabul and Bara are flowing in Khyber Agency but due to unavailability of irrigation the area is not fit for cultivation purposes and the hills are without thick vegetation. River Kabul is demarcating the Northern limitation with Mohmand Agency and forming a deep and narrow valley around it. The area is at about 1,180 m starting from the Fort of Jamrud. It is a canyon running inside mountains proceeding towards Afghanistan by crossing the Range of Kohe- Sufaid. A town of Khyber Agency viz. Landi Kotal can be located at 34 0 6 / 4 // N latitude and 71 0 8 / 44 // Elongitude and lies on the KhyberPass at a 1072 m altitude. Landi Kotal is tourist destination due to historic Khyber Pass. It is accessible by road from elsewhere in Pakistan or from the Afghanistan border just fivekmto the west. Landi Kotal is the main shopping centre for both the Shinwari and Afridi tribes. The mountains found in the Research area are Kunastar, Sor Wut, Gagra Sar, Shahid Sar, Johar Kandao Sar, Zaman Tsapparai, Bargholi Sar, Abdul Haq Sar, Spera and Sandan Sar. In some areas like Sadu Khel, Niki khel and Sheikhwal a thick forest of Monotheca buxifolia is present which give a beauty to these areas, along with providing wood for fuel to the inhabitants of the area. Some common plants found in Landi Kotal are, Monotheca buxifolia, Acacia modesta, Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora, Calotropis procera, Withania coagulans,Withania somnifera, Nerium oleander, Dodonea viscosa, Artemisia scoparia, Olea ferruginea, Jasminum humile, Eucalyptus lanceolata, Carduus edelbergii, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium murale, Conyza Canadensis, Calendula arvensis and Cersium arvense. Floristic inventory is a necessary prerequisite for much fundamental research in subtropical community ecology, such as modeling patterns of species diversity or understanding species distributions (Phillips et al., 2003). The total number of species available on the earth is not determined yet however, it is estimated that the total number of animal and plant species could be between 13 and 14 million (Heywood, 1995). Conservation biologists warn that 25 percent of all species could become extinct during the next twenty to thirty years (Khera et al., 2001). The cause for the loss of species is numerous but the most important is the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats. One of the foundations for conservation of biological diversity in forest landscapes is understanding and managing the disturbances regimes of a landscape (Spies and Turner, 1999). Qureshi and