diff --git a/src/pyobo/reader.py b/src/pyobo/reader.py
index dc32c49d..a7fabc58 100644
--- a/src/pyobo/reader.py
+++ b/src/pyobo/reader.py
@@ -293,12 +293,12 @@ def iterate_graph_synonym_typedefs(
     for s in graph.graph.get("synonymtypedef", []):
         sid, name = s.split(" ", 1)
         name = name.strip().strip('"')
-        if ":" not in sid:  # assume it's ad-hoc
-            reference = Reference(prefix=ontology_prefix, identifier=sid, name=name)
-        else:  # assume it's a curie
+        if ":" in sid:  # assume it's a curie
             reference = Reference.from_curie(
                 sid, name=name, strict=strict, ontology_prefix=ontology_prefix
             )
+        else:
+            reference = default_reference(ontology_prefix, sid, name=name)
 
         if reference is None:
             if strict:
diff --git a/src/pyobo/struct/reference.py b/src/pyobo/struct/reference.py
index 0d82ee73..2eb104db 100644
--- a/src/pyobo/struct/reference.py
+++ b/src/pyobo/struct/reference.py
@@ -93,38 +93,12 @@ def from_curie(  # type:ignore[override]
         prefix, identifier = normalize_curie(
             curie, strict=strict, ontology_prefix=ontology_prefix, node=node
         )
-        return cls._materialize(prefix=prefix, identifier=identifier, name=name, auto=auto)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def from_iri(
-        cls,
-        iri: str,
-        name: str | None = None,
-        *,
-        auto: bool = False,
-    ) -> Reference | None:
-        """Get a reference from an IRI using the Bioregistry.
-
-        :param iri: The IRI to parse
-        :param name: The name associated with the CURIE
-        :param auto: Automatically look up name
-        """
-        prefix, identifier = bioregistry.parse_iri(iri)
-        return cls._materialize(prefix=prefix, identifier=identifier, name=name, auto=auto)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def _materialize(
-        cls,
-        prefix: str | None,
-        identifier: str | None,
-        name: str | None = None,
-        *,
-        auto: bool = False,
-    ) -> Reference | None:
         if prefix is None or identifier is None:
             return None
         if name is None and auto:
-            return cls.auto(prefix=prefix, identifier=identifier)
+            from ..api import get_name
+
+            name = get_name(prefix, identifier)
         return cls.model_validate({"prefix": prefix, "identifier": identifier, "name": name})
 
     @property