Shrubs 1.5-3 m tall. Stems, branches, petioles, pedicels, and calyces densely hirsute, trichomes basally flattened. Petiole 1-2.5(-4) cm; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, (4.5-)8-15(-22) × (1.7-)2.5-5(-8) cm, stiffly papery, both surfaces strigose, secondary veins 2 on each side of midvein, base obtuse to rounded, margin entire, apex long acuminate to acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, corymbose, usually 1(or 3-5)-flowered. Pedicel 2-5 mm. Hypanthium 1-2 × 1-2 cm, trichomes sometimes retroflexed. Calyx lobes 5(-7), triangular to triangular-lanceolate, 6-12 × ca. 4 mm, strigose at ridges. Petals 5(-7), pink to purple, broadly obovate, (2-)3-5 × (1.5-)2-2.2 cm, apically oblique, apex emarginate. Longer stamens with anthers ca. 1.3 cm; connective long extended at base, curved, basal-adaxially with 2 lobes. Shorter stamens with anthers ca. 9 mm; connective not extended, basal-adaxially with 2 lobes. Ovary half inferior, densely setose. Fruit urceolate-turbinate, 1.5-2.2 × 1.5-2 cm, succulent, with stiff often retroflexed trichomes. Fl. all year, fr. Aug-Oct.

In FRPS (53(1): 159. 1984), the name Melastoma penicillatum Naudin was misapplied to specimens of M. sanguineum from Hainan.

Open slopes, thickets, grasslands, woodland margins on low hills, trailsides; below 400 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia].