Vangueria infausta, the wild medlar or mispel in Afrikaans is a deciduous or semi-deciduous shrub or small tree of 1 m to 8 m (SA Tree List No. 702). The infausta specific name refers to an ancient belief of purported magical properties of the tree, not widely given credence, even remembered today.

The species distribution is widespread in the north-east of South Africa, in KwaZulu-Natal and north of the Vaal River. The habitat is bushveld, open woodland and grassland among rocks; also in coastal scrub. The tree is common in Zimbabwe, the east and north of Botswana, the north of Namibia and further in tropical Africa. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.redlist.sanbi.org).