Vangueria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae.

Endophytic bacteria are housed in the intercellular space of the leaf mesophyll tissue.

The bacteria are identified as Burkholderia, which is a genus that is also found in the leaves of other Rubiaceae species.

[2][3] The hypothesis is that these endophytic bacteria provide chemical protection against insect herbivory.

[4] Several Vangueria species - V. latifolia, V. pygmaea, V. thamnus - are known to cause gousiekte, a cardiotoxicosis of ruminants characterised by heart failure four to eight weeks after ingestion of certain rubiaceous plants.