Herbs, perennial or annual, carnivorous, terrestrial, epiphytic, or aquatic. Roots present or absent. Stems often (Utricularia) modified into rhizoids, stolons, or rhizomes, rarely developed. Traps (bladders) on rhizoids, stolons, or leaves present in Utricularia but absent in Pinguicula. Stipules absent. Leaves alternate or in a basal rosette, simple or variously divided. Inflorescences usually racemes or reduced to a solitary flower; peduncle erect to twining. Flowers ± zygomorphic. Calyx 2-5-lobed or -parted; lobes imbricate, persistent. Corolla gamopetalous, tube short, limb 2-lipped or equally 5-lobed; lower lip entire or 2- or 3(-6)-lobed, lobes imbricate; upper lip entire or 2- or 3-lobed; spur subulate, cylindric, conic, or saccate. Stamens 2, inserted at base of corolla tube, included; filaments linear, short, curved or straight; anthers dorsifixed, ellipsoid; thecae 2, divaricate, confluent or (in Utricularia) sometimes distinct and ± separated by a connective; staminodes absent. Disk absent. Carpels 2, connate; ovary superior, 1-locular; placenta free-central or basal; ovules 2 to numerous, anatropous, somewhat sunken into placenta; style 1 or absent; stigma 2-lipped, upper lip reduced or obsolete. Fruit usually a capsule, loculicidal, circumscissile, or rarely indehiscent. Seeds few, numerous, or rarely 1 per capsule, minute, without endosperm.

Li Zhenyu. 1990. Lentibulariaceae. In: Wang Wentsai, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 69: 582-605.

Three genera and ca. 290 species: cosmopolitan but mostly in tropical regions; two genera and 27 species (four endemic) in China.

(Authors: Li Zhenyu (李振宇); Martin R. Cheek)