Hooker, J.D. (3 May 1858), The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. Discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae 2(6): 13, t. CXIII A. [tax. nov.]

• Type: "Hab. Sandy soil: near Hobarton, J.D.H.; Cheshunt?, Archer.–(Fl. Sept.)"

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1875), Census of the plants of Tasmania, instituted in 1875. Monthly Notices of Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1874: 89 [secondary reference]

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1882), Systematic Census of Australian Plants: 112 [secondary reference]

Rodway, L. (1903), The Tasmanian Flora: 194 [secondary reference]

Curtis, W.M. (1980), Angiospermae: Orchidaceae. The Student's Flora of Tasmania 4A: 76-77, Pl. 1 [secondary reference]

Jacobs, S.W.L. & Pickard, J. (1981), Plants of New South Wales: 31 [secondary reference]

taxonomic synonym: Prasophyllum exiguum Rupp nom. inval.

Jones, D.L. (1988), Native Orchids of Australia: 273 [secondary reference]

common name: Purple Midge Orchid [n/a] common name: Sharp Midge Orchid [n/a]

Clements, M.A. in Jones, D.L. (ed.) (August 1989), Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae. Australian Orchid Research 1: 112 [secondary reference]

taxonomic synonym: Prasophyllum despectans var. intermedium Ewart & B.Rees legitimate

Jones, D.L. & Clements, M.A. (September 1989), Reinterpretation of the genus Genoplesium R.Br. (Orchidaceae: Prasophyllinae). Lindleyana 4(3): 142-143 [secondary reference]

• Lectotype: "Type: "Sandy soil: near Hobarton," Sept.?, J.D. Hooker s.n. (Lectotype: specimen (a) K!, here designated)."

Jones, D.L. & Clements, M.A. (September 1989), Reinterpretation of the genus Genoplesium R.Br. (Orchidaceae: Prasophyllinae). Lindleyana 4(3): 142 [basionym]

basionym of: Genoplesium despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Bates, R.J. & Weber, J.Z. (7 December 1990), Orchids of South Australia: 115-116 (map), Fig. 164, Plate 144 [secondary reference]

nomenclatural synonym: Genoplesium despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate common name: Sharp midge-orchid [n/a]

• Etymology: "The name despectans (looking down) refers to the downward facing flowers."
• Text: "A putative hybrid with P. archeri has been noted from Honan Scrub."

Jones, D.L. in Harden, G.J. (ed.) (1993), Genoplesium. Flora of New South Wales 4: 165 [nomenclatural synonym]

nomenclatural synonym of: Genoplesium despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Jones, D.L. in Walsh, N.G. & Entwisle, T.J. (ed.) (1994), Genoplesium. Flora of Victoria Edn. 1, 2: 887 [nomenclatural synonym]

nomenclatural synonym of: Genoplesium despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Jones, D.L. in Banks, D.P. (ed.) (1998), A taxonomic review of Genoplesium in Tasmania. Australian Orchid Research 3: 88 [nomenclatural synonym]

nomenclatural synonym of: Genoplesium despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Jones, D.L., Clements, M.A., Sharma, I.S., Mackenzie, A.M. & Molloy, B.P.J. (January 2002), Nomenclatural notes arising from studies into the Tribe Diurideae (Orchidaceae). The Orchadian 13(10): 460 [basionym]

basionym of: Corunastylis despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Jeanes, J.A. in Ross, J.H. & Walsh, N.G. (June 2003), Orchidaceae. A Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria Edn. 7: 24 [nomenclatural synonym]

nomenclatural synonym of: Corunastylis despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Barker, W.R., Barker, R.M., Jessop, J. & Vonow, H. (ed.) (18 March 2005), Census of South Australian Vascular Plants 5th Edition. Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Supplement 1: 197 [nomenclatural synonym]

nomenclatural synonym of: Genoplesium despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (28 February 2018), Australian Plant Census: - [nomenclatural synonym]

nomenclatural synonym of: Genoplesium despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Jones, D.L. (January 2021), Native Orchids of Australia Edn. 3: 375 [nomenclatural synonym]

nomenclatural synonym of: Corunastylis despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (7 July 2021), Australian Plant Census: - [nomenclatural synonym]

nomenclatural synonym of: Corunastylis despectans (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. legitimate

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