Herbs, annual. Leaves opposite; leaf blade palmatisect, 3-parted. Racemes terminal. Calyx 10-veined, 5-lobed, parted to ca. 1/2 length, upper lobe slightly shallower. Corolla 2-lipped; lower lip exserted in bud, 3-lobed at anthesis, lobes patent, base 2-plicate; upper lip obscurely galeate, parted slightly beyond middle. Stamens 4, didynamous, enclosed by galea; anther locules equal, apically confluent, obovoid, pointed at base. Stigma capitate. Capsule loculicidal. Seeds numerous, sculptured, slightly curved; seed coat reticulate.

One species: endemic to China.

Pseudobartsia is one of the most primitive members of the tribe Rhinantheae. The genus is related to Odontites Ludwig and Bartsia Linnaeus, and it is also similar to Phtheirospermum Bunge. Tao (Acta Bot. Yunnan. 15: 232. 1993) treated Pseudobartsia yunnanensis as conspecific with the Himalayan Phtheirospermum glandulosum Bentham. However, more comparative material is needed before the generic placement of P. glandulosum and the possible synonymy of P. yunnanensis can be confirmed.