Flowers are perfect, and borne either singly or in terminal or axillary, paniculate cymes.

A number of melastomes are regarded as invasive species once naturalized in tropical and subtropical environments outside their normal range.

Examples are Koster's curse (Clidemia hirta), Pleroma semidecandrum and Miconia calvescens, but many other species are involved.

Under the APG III system of classification, the seven genera from Memecylaceae are now included in this family.

They are:[5] Melastomataceae is foraged by many stingless bees, especially by the species Melipona bicolor which gather pollen from this taxon of flowering plant.