Nymania capensis is known in English as "Chinese Lantern" because of the shape of its bright, colorful fruit, and in Afrikaans as "klapper" (meaning "firecracker" because children sometimes pop the capsules for fun).
The genus has variously been assigned to the families Sapindaceae, Aitoniaceae, and Meliaceae. The correct assignment also is under review.
The plant has been reported to have been used in folk medicine.