diff --git a/declarations/comment.js b/declarations/comment.js
index a876bd6e0..1e12d0c4c 100644
--- a/declarations/comment.js
+++ b/declarations/comment.js
@@ -58,7 +58,21 @@ declare type CommentContextGitHub = {
   url: string
 };
 
-declare type CommentTag = {
+declare type CommentTagBase = {
+  title: string
+};
+
+declare type CommentTag = CommentTagBase & {
+  name?: string,
+  title: string,
+  description?: Object,
+  default?: any,
+  lineNumber?: number,
+  type?: DoctrineType,
+  properties?: Array<CommentTag>
+};
+
+declare type CommentTagNamed = CommentTag & {
   name?: string,
   title: string,
   description?: Object,
@@ -88,18 +102,19 @@ declare type Remark = {
 
 declare type Access = 'private' | 'public' | 'protected';
 declare type Scope = 'instance' | 'static' | 'inner' | 'global';
-declare type Kind = 'class' |
-  'constant' |
-  'event' |
-  'external' |
-  'file' |
-  'function' |
-  'member' |
-  'mixin' |
-  'module' |
-  'namespace' |
-  'typedef' |
-  'interface';
+declare type Kind =
+  | 'class'
+  | 'constant'
+  | 'event'
+  | 'external'
+  | 'file'
+  | 'function'
+  | 'member'
+  | 'mixin'
+  | 'module'
+  | 'namespace'
+  | 'typedef'
+  | 'interface';
 
 declare type Comment = {
   errors: Array<CommentError>,
@@ -152,4 +167,4 @@ declare type ReducedComment = {
   name: string,
   kind: ?Kind,
   scope?: ?Scope
-}
+};
diff --git a/default_theme/section._ b/default_theme/section._
index 4ef057fee..a7158640f 100644
--- a/default_theme/section._
+++ b/default_theme/section._
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
             = <code><%- param.default %></code><% } %>)</code>
 	    <%= md(param.description, true) %>
           </div>
-          <% if (param.properties) { %>
+          <% if (param.properties && param.properties.length) { %>
           <table class='mt1 mb2 fixed-table h5 col-12'>
             <colgroup>
               <col width='30%' />
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
           <% } %><% if (property.description) {
 	    %>: <%= md(property.description, true) %><%
 	  } %>
-          <% if (property.properties) { %>
+          <% if (property.properties && property.properties.length) { %>
             <ul>
               <% property.properties.forEach(function(property) { %>
                 <li><code><%- property.name %></code> <%= formatType(property.type) %>
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 6ae6d0987..0c91f4c86 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -45,13 +45,10 @@ function pipeline() {
   };
 }
 
-
-
-function configure(indexes, args)/*: Promise<InputsConfig> */ {
+function configure(indexes, args) /*: Promise<InputsConfig> */ {
   let mergedConfig = mergeConfig(args);
 
   return mergedConfig.then(config => {
-
     let expandedInputs = expandInputs(indexes, config);
 
     return expandedInputs.then(inputs => {
@@ -71,8 +68,10 @@ function configure(indexes, args)/*: Promise<InputsConfig> */ {
  * @param {Object} config options
  * @returns {Promise<Array<string>>} promise with results
  */
-function expandInputs(indexes/*: string|Array<string> */,
-  config /*: DocumentationConfig */) {
+function expandInputs(
+  indexes /*: string|Array<string> */,
+  config /*: DocumentationConfig */
+) {
   // Ensure that indexes is an array of strings
   indexes = [].concat(indexes);
 
@@ -91,23 +90,24 @@ function buildInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
     config.access = ['public', 'undefined', 'protected'];
   }
 
-  var parseFn = (config.polyglot) ? polyglot : parseJavaScript;
+  var parseFn = config.polyglot ? polyglot : parseJavaScript;
 
   var buildPipeline = pipeline(
     inferName,
     inferAccess(config.inferPrivate),
     inferAugments,
     inferKind,
+    nest,
     inferParams,
     inferProperties,
     inferReturn,
     inferMembership(),
     inferType,
-    nest,
     config.github && github,
-    garbageCollect);
+    garbageCollect
+  );
 
-  let extractedComments = _.flatMap(inputs, function (sourceFile) {
+  let extractedComments = _.flatMap(inputs, function(sourceFile) {
     if (!sourceFile.source) {
       sourceFile.source = fs.readFileSync(sourceFile.file, 'utf8');
     }
@@ -115,16 +115,17 @@ function buildInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
     return parseFn(sourceFile, config).map(buildPipeline);
   }).filter(Boolean);
 
-  return filterAccess(config.access,
-    hierarchy(
-      sort(extractedComments, config)));
+  return filterAccess(
+    config.access,
+    hierarchy(sort(extractedComments, config))
+  );
 }
 
 function lintInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
   let inputs = inputsAndConfig.inputs;
   let config = inputsAndConfig.config;
 
-  let parseFn = (config.polyglot) ? polyglot : parseJavaScript;
+  let parseFn = config.polyglot ? polyglot : parseJavaScript;
 
   let lintPipeline = pipeline(
     lintComments,
@@ -137,7 +138,8 @@ function lintInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
     inferReturn,
     inferMembership(),
     inferType,
-    nest);
+    nest
+  );
 
   let extractedComments = _.flatMap(inputs, sourceFile => {
     if (!sourceFile.source) {
@@ -183,8 +185,7 @@ function lintInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
  *   }
  * });
  */
-let lint = (indexes, args) => configure(indexes, args)
-  .then(lintInternal);
+let lint = (indexes, args) => configure(indexes, args).then(lintInternal);
 
 /**
  * Generate JavaScript documentation as a list of parsed JSDoc
@@ -227,8 +228,7 @@ let lint = (indexes, args) => configure(indexes, args)
  *   // any other kind of code data.
  * });
  */
-let build = (indexes, args) => configure(indexes, args)
-  .then(buildInternal);
+let build = (indexes, args) => configure(indexes, args).then(buildInternal);
 
 /**
  * Documentation's formats are modular methods that take comments
@@ -240,9 +240,8 @@ let build = (indexes, args) => configure(indexes, args)
 var formats = {
   html: require('./lib/output/html'),
   md: require('./lib/output/markdown'),
-  remark: (comments/*: Array<Comment> */, config/*: DocumentationConfig */) =>
-    markdownAST(comments, config)
-      .then(res => JSON.stringify(res, null, 2)),
+  remark: (comments /*: Array<Comment> */, config /*: DocumentationConfig */) =>
+    markdownAST(comments, config).then(res => JSON.stringify(res, null, 2)),
   json: require('./lib/output/json')
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/infer/params.js b/lib/infer/params.js
index ffa430034..7a5a83265 100644
--- a/lib/infer/params.js
+++ b/lib/infer/params.js
@@ -1,15 +1,75 @@
 'use strict';
 /* @flow */
 
-var t = require('babel-types'),
-  findTarget = require('./finders').findTarget,
-  flowDoctrine = require('../flow_doctrine');
+const t = require('babel-types');
+const generate = require('babel-generator').default;
+const _ = require('lodash');
+const findTarget = require('./finders').findTarget;
+const flowDoctrine = require('../flow_doctrine');
+const util = require('util');
+const debuglog = util.debuglog('infer');
 
-function addPrefix(doc, prefix) {
-  if (!Array.isArray(doc) && doc.name) {
-    doc.name = prefix + doc.name;
+// TODO: use a constant
+const PATH_SPLIT_CAPTURING = /(\[])?(\.)/g;
+
+function addPrefix(doc /*: CommentTagNamed */, prefix) {
+  return _.assign(doc, {
+    name: prefix + doc.name
+  });
+}
+
+function destructuringObjectParamToDoc(param, i, prefix) /*: CommentTag */ {
+  return {
+    title: 'param',
+    name: '$' + String(i),
+    anonymous: true,
+    type: (param.typeAnnotation && flowDoctrine(param)) || {
+      type: 'NameExpression',
+      name: 'Object'
+    },
+    properties: param.properties.map(prop => destructuringPropertyToDoc(prop, i, prefix))
+  };
+}
+
+function destructuringPropertyToDoc(property, i /*: number */, prefix /*: string */) /*: CommentTag */ {
+  switch (property.type) {
+    case 'ObjectProperty':
+      // Object properties can rename their arguments, like
+      // function f({ x: y })
+      // We want to document that as x, not y: y is the internal name.
+      // So we use the key. In the case where they don't rename,
+      // key and value are the same.
+      return paramToDoc(property, i, prefix + '$' + String(i) + '.');
+    case 'Identifier':
+      // if the destructuring type is an array, the elements
+      // in it are identifiers
+      return paramToDoc(property, i, prefix + '$' + String(i) + '.');
+    case 'RestProperty':
+    case 'RestElement':
+    case 'ObjectPattern':
+      return paramToDoc(property, i, prefix + '$' + String(i) + '.');
+    default:
+      throw new Error(`Unknown property encountered: ${property.type}`);
   }
-  return doc;
+}
+
+function destructuringObjectPropertyToDoc(param, i /*: number */, prefix /*: string */) /*: CommentTag */ {
+  return _.assign(paramToDoc(param.value, i, prefix), {
+    name: prefix + param.key.name
+  });
+}
+
+function destructuringArrayParamToDoc(param, i /*: number */, prefix /*: string */) /*: CommentTag */ {
+  return {
+    title: 'param',
+    name: '$' + String(i),
+    anonymous: true,
+    type: (param.typeAnnotation && flowDoctrine(param)) || {
+      type: 'NameExpression',
+      name: 'Array'
+    },
+    properties: param.elements.map(element => destructuringPropertyToDoc(element, i, prefix))
+  };
 }
 
 /**
@@ -22,38 +82,31 @@ function addPrefix(doc, prefix) {
  * @param {Object} param ESTree node
  * @returns {Object} JSDoc param
  */
-function paramWithDefaultToDoc(
-  param,
-  comment,
-  i
-) /*: CommentTag | Array<CommentTag> */ {
-  var newParam = paramToDoc(param.left, comment, i, '');
+function paramWithDefaultToDoc(param, i) /*: CommentTag */ {
+  const newParam = paramToDoc(param.left, i, '');
 
-  var defaultValue = comment.context.code.substring(
-    param.right.start,
-    param.right.end
-  );
+  return _.assign(newParam, {
+    default: generate(param.right).code,
+    type: {
+      type: 'OptionalType',
+      expression: newParam.type
+    }
+  });
+}
 
-  // this is a destructuring parameter with defaults
-  if (Array.isArray(newParam)) {
-    newParam[0].default = defaultValue;
-    return newParam;
+function restParamToDoc(param) /*: CommentTag */ {
+  let type /*: DoctrineType */ = {
+    type: 'RestType'
+  };
+  if (param.typeAnnotation) {
+    type.expression = flowDoctrine(param.typeAnnotation.typeAnnotation);
   }
-
-  var optionalParam /*: CommentTag */ = {
+  return {
     title: 'param',
-    name: newParam.name,
-    default: defaultValue
+    name: param.argument.name,
+    lineNumber: param.loc.start.line,
+    type
   };
-
-  if (newParam.type) {
-    optionalParam.type = {
-      type: 'OptionalType',
-      expression: newParam.type
-    };
-  }
-
-  return optionalParam;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -69,128 +122,39 @@ function paramWithDefaultToDoc(
  *
  * @private
  * @param {Object} param the abstract syntax tree of the parameter in JavaScript
- * @param {Object} comment the full comment object
  * @param {number} i the number of this parameter, in argument order
  * @param {string} prefix of the comment, if it is nested, like in the case of destructuring
  * @returns {Object} parameter with inference.
  */
-function paramToDoc(
-  param,
-  comment /*: Comment */,
-  i /*: number */,
-  prefix /*: string */
-) /*: Array<CommentTag> | CommentTag */ {
-  function destructuringPropertyToDoc(
-    property
-  ) /*: Array<CommentTag> | CommentTag */ {
-    if (property.type === 'ObjectProperty') {
-      return paramToDoc(
-        property.value,
-        comment,
-        i,
-        prefix + '$' + String(i) + '.'
-      );
-    } else if (property.type === 'Identifier') {
-      // if the destructuring type is an array, the elements
-      // in it are identifiers
-      return paramToDoc(property, comment, i, prefix + '$' + String(i) + '.');
-    } else if (property.type === 'RestProperty') {
-      return paramToDoc(property, comment, i, prefix + '$' + String(i) + '.');
-    } else if (property.type === 'RestElement') {
-      return paramToDoc(property, comment, i, prefix + '$' + String(i) + '.');
-    }
-    throw new Error(`Unknown property encountered: ${property.type}`);
-  }
-
-  function destructuringObjectParamToDoc(param) /*: Array<CommentTag> */ {
-    return [
-      {
+function paramToDoc(param, i /*: number */, prefix /*: string */) /*: CommentTag */ {
+  // ES6 default
+  switch (param.type) {
+    case 'AssignmentPattern': // (a = b)
+      return addPrefix(paramWithDefaultToDoc(param, i), prefix);
+    case 'ObjectPattern': // { a }
+      return destructuringObjectParamToDoc(param, i, prefix);
+    case 'ArrayPattern':
+      return destructuringArrayParamToDoc(param, i, prefix);
+    // TODO: do we need both?
+    case 'ObjectProperty':
+      return destructuringObjectPropertyToDoc(param, i, prefix);
+    case 'RestProperty':
+    case 'RestElement':
+      return addPrefix(restParamToDoc(param), prefix);
+    default:
+      var newParam /*: CommentTagNamed */ = {
         title: 'param',
-        name: '$' + String(i),
-        type: flowDoctrine(param) || {
-          type: 'NameExpression',
-          name: 'Object'
-        }
-      }
-    ].concat(param.properties.map(destructuringPropertyToDoc));
-  }
+        name: param.name,
+        lineNumber: param.loc.start.line
+      };
 
-  function destructuringArrayParamToDoc(param) /*: Array<CommentTag> */ {
-    return [
-      {
-        title: 'param',
-        name: '$' + String(i),
-        type: flowDoctrine(param) || {
-          type: 'NameExpression',
-          name: 'Array'
-        }
+      // Flow/TS annotations
+      if (param.typeAnnotation && param.typeAnnotation.typeAnnotation) {
+        newParam.type = flowDoctrine(param.typeAnnotation.typeAnnotation);
       }
-    ].concat(param.elements.map(destructuringPropertyToDoc));
-  }
-
-  function restParamToDoc(param) /*: CommentTag */ {
-    let type /*: DoctrineType */ = {
-      type: 'RestType'
-    };
-    if (param.typeAnnotation) {
-      type.expression = flowDoctrine(param.typeAnnotation.typeAnnotation);
-    }
-    var newParam = {
-      title: 'param',
-      name: param.argument.name,
-      lineNumber: param.loc.start.line,
-      type
-    };
-    return newParam;
-  }
-
-  // ES6 default
-  if (param.type === 'AssignmentPattern') {
-    return addPrefix(paramWithDefaultToDoc(param, comment, i), prefix);
-  }
-
-  if (param.type === 'ObjectPattern') {
-    return destructuringObjectParamToDoc(param);
-  }
-
-  if (param.type === 'ArrayPattern') {
-    return destructuringArrayParamToDoc(param);
-  }
 
-  if (param.type === 'RestProperty' || param.type === 'RestElement') {
-    return addPrefix(restParamToDoc(param), prefix);
+      return addPrefix(newParam, prefix);
   }
-
-  var newParam /*: CommentTag */ = {
-    title: 'param',
-    name: param.name,
-    lineNumber: param.loc.start.line
-  };
-
-  // Flow/TS annotations
-  if (param.typeAnnotation && param.typeAnnotation.typeAnnotation) {
-    newParam.type = flowDoctrine(param.typeAnnotation.typeAnnotation);
-  }
-
-  return addPrefix(newParam, prefix);
-}
-
-function insertBeforeDependents(comment, comments) {
-  var dependentNamePrefix = comment.name + '.';
-  for (
-    var insertionIndex = 0;
-    insertionIndex < comments.length;
-    insertionIndex++
-  ) {
-    let commentName = comments[insertionIndex].name;
-    if (commentName && commentName.indexOf(dependentNamePrefix) === 0) {
-      break;
-    }
-  }
-  return comments
-    .slice(0, insertionIndex)
-    .concat(comment)
-    .concat(comments.slice(insertionIndex));
 }
 
 /**
@@ -212,49 +176,112 @@ function inferParams(comment /*: Comment */) {
     return comment;
   }
 
-  // Ensure that explicitly specified parameters are not overridden
-  // by inferred parameters
-  var existingParams = {};
-  comment.params.forEach(function(param) {
-    if (typeof param.name === 'string') {
-      existingParams[param.name] = param;
-    }
+  // Then merge the trees. This is the hard part.
+  return _.assign(comment, {
+    params: mergeTrees(path.node.params.map((param, i) => paramToDoc(param, i, '')), comment.params)
   });
+}
 
-  var paramOrder = {};
-  var i = 0;
+/**
+ * Recurse through a potentially nested parameter tag,
+ * replacing the auto-generated name, like $0, with an explicit
+ * name provided from a JSDoc comment
+ */
+function renameTree(node, explicitName) {
+  var parts = node.name.split(PATH_SPLIT_CAPTURING);
+  parts[0] = explicitName;
+  node.name = parts.join('');
+  if (node.properties) {
+    node.properties.forEach(property => renameTree(property, explicitName));
+  }
+}
+
+var mapTags = tags => new Map(tags.map(tag => [tag.name, tag]));
 
-  path.node.params
-    .reduce(
-      function(params, param, i) {
-        return params.concat(paramToDoc(param, comment, i, ''));
-      },
-      []
-    )
-    .forEach(function(doc) {
-      if (!existingParams.hasOwnProperty(doc.name)) {
-        // This type is not explicitly documented
-        comment.params = insertBeforeDependents(doc, comment.params);
-      } else if (!existingParams[doc.name].type) {
-        // This param has a description, but potentially it can
-        // be have an inferred type. Infer its type without
-        // dropping the description.
-        if (doc.type) {
-          existingParams[doc.name].type = doc.type;
-        }
-      } else if (
-        existingParams[doc.name].type.type !== 'OptionalType' && doc.default
-      ) {
-        existingParams[doc.name].type = {
-          type: 'OptionalType',
-          expression: existingParams[doc.name].type,
-          default: doc.default
-        };
+function mergeTrees(inferred, explicit) {
+  // The first order of business is ensuring that the root types are specified
+  // in the right order. For the order of arguments, the inferred reality
+  // is the ground-truth: a function like
+  // function addThem(a, b, c) {}
+  // Should always see (a, b, c) in that order
+
+  // First, if all parameters are specified, allow explicit names to apply
+  // to destructuring parameters, which do not have inferred names. This is
+  // _only_ enabled in the case in which all parameters are specified explicitly
+  if (inferred.length === explicit.length) {
+    for (var i = 0; i < inferred.length; i++) {
+      if (inferred[i].anonymous === true) {
+        renameTree(inferred[i], explicit[i].name);
       }
-      paramOrder[doc.name] = i++;
-    });
+    }
+  }
+
+  return mergeTopNodes(inferred, explicit);
+}
+
+function mergeTopNodes(inferred, explicit) {
+  const mapExplicit = mapTags(explicit);
+  const inferredNames = new Set(inferred.map(tag => tag.name));
+  const explicitTagsWithoutInference = explicit.filter(tag => !inferredNames.has(tag.name));
+
+  if (explicitTagsWithoutInference.length) {
+    debuglog(
+      `${explicitTagsWithoutInference.length} tags were specified but didn't match ` +
+        `inferred information ${explicitTagsWithoutInference.map(t => t.name).join(', ')}`
+    );
+  }
 
-  return comment;
+  return inferred
+    .map(inferredTag => {
+      const explicitTag = mapExplicit.get(inferredTag.name);
+      return explicitTag ? combineTags(inferredTag, explicitTag) : inferredTag;
+    })
+    .concat(explicitTagsWithoutInference);
+}
+
+// This method is used for _non-root_ properties only - we use mergeTopNodes
+// for root properties, which strictly requires inferred only. In this case,
+// we combine all tags:
+// - inferred & explicit
+// - explicit only
+// - inferred only
+function mergeNodes(inferred, explicit) {
+  const intersection = _.intersectionBy(inferred, explicit, tag => tag.name);
+  const explicitOnly = _.differenceBy(explicit, inferred, tag => tag.name);
+  const inferredOnly = _.differenceBy(inferred, explicit, tag => tag.name);
+  const mapExplicit = mapTags(explicit);
+
+  return intersection
+    .map(inferredTag => {
+      const explicitTag = mapExplicit.get(inferredTag.name);
+      return explicitTag ? combineTags(inferredTag, explicitTag) : inferredTag;
+    })
+    .concat(explicitOnly)
+    .concat(inferredOnly);
+}
+
+function combineTags(inferredTag, explicitTag) {
+  let type = explicitTag.type;
+  var defaultValue;
+  if (!explicitTag.type) {
+    type = inferredTag.type;
+  } else if (explicitTag.type.type !== 'OptionalType' && inferredTag.default) {
+    type = {
+      type: 'OptionalType',
+      expression: explicitTag.type
+    };
+    defaultValue = inferredTag.default;
+  }
+
+  return _.assign(
+    explicitTag,
+    {
+      properties: mergeNodes(inferredTag.properties || [], explicitTag.properties || []),
+      type
+    },
+    defaultValue ? { default: defaultValue } : {}
+  );
 }
 
 module.exports = inferParams;
+module.exports.mergeTrees = mergeTrees;
diff --git a/lib/nest.js b/lib/nest.js
index 753adf6e3..4cc0c8559 100644
--- a/lib/nest.js
+++ b/lib/nest.js
@@ -1,9 +1,35 @@
 /* @flow */
 'use strict';
 
+var _ = require('lodash');
+
+const PATH_SPLIT = /(?:\[])?\./g;
+
+function rejectUnnamedTags(
+  tags /*: Array<CommentTag> */
+) /*: Array<CommentTagNamed> */ {
+  return tags.filter(tag => typeof tag.name === 'string');
+}
+
+var tagDepth = tag => tag.name.split(PATH_SPLIT).length;
+
 /**
  * Nest nestable tags, like param and property, into nested
  * arrays that are suitable for output.
+ * Okay, so we're building a tree of comments, with the tag.name
+ * being the indexer. We sort by depth, so that we add each
+ * level of the tree incrementally, and throw if we run against
+ * a node that doesn't have a parent.
+ *
+ * foo.abe
+ * foo.bar.baz
+ * foo.bar.a
+ * foo.bar[].bax
+ *
+ * foo -> .abe
+ *    \-> .bar -> .baz
+ *            \-> .a
+ *            \-> [].baz
  *
  * @private
  * @param {Object} comment a comment with tags
@@ -11,52 +37,50 @@
  * @param {string} target the tag to nest into
  * @returns {Object} nested comment
  */
-function nestTag(
-  comment /*: Comment */,
-  tagTitle /*: string */,
-  target /*: string */
-) {
-  if (!comment[target]) {
-    return comment;
-  }
+var nestTag = (
+  tags /*: Array<CommentTag> */
+  // Use lodash here both for brevity and also because, unlike JavaScript's
+  // sort, it's stable.
+) =>
+  _.sortBy(rejectUnnamedTags(tags), tagDepth).reduce(
+    (memo, tag) => {
+      function insertTag(node, parts) {
+        // The 'done' case: we're at parts.length === 1,
+        // this is where the node should be placed. We reliably
+        // get to this case because the recursive method
+        // is always passed parts.slice(1)
+        if (parts.length === 1) {
+          _.assign(node, {
+            properties: (node.properties || []).concat(tag)
+          });
+        } else {
+          // The recursive case: try to find the child that owns
+          // this tag.
+          let child = node.properties &&
+            node.properties.find(
+              property => parts[0] === _.last(property.name.split(PATH_SPLIT))
+            );
 
-  var result = [], index = {};
+          if (!child) {
+            if (tag.name.match(/^(\$\d+)/)) {
+              throw new Error(
+                `Parent of ${tag.name} not found. To document a destructuring\n` +
+                  `type, add a @param tag in its position to specify the name of the\n` +
+                  `destructured parameter`
+              );
+            }
+            throw new Error(`Parent of ${tag.name} not found`);
+          }
 
-  comment[target].forEach(tag => {
-    var tagName = tag.name;
-    if (tagName) {
-      index[tagName] = tag;
-      var parts = tagName
-        .split(/(\[\])?\./)
-        .filter(part => part && part !== '[]');
-      if (parts.length > 1) {
-        var parent = index[parts.slice(0, -1).join('.')];
-        if (parent === undefined) {
-          comment.errors.push({
-            message: '@' +
-              tagTitle +
-              ' ' +
-              tag.name +
-              "'s parent " +
-              parts[0] +
-              ' not found',
-            commentLineNumber: tag.lineNumber
-          });
-          result.push(tag);
-          return;
+          insertTag(child, parts.slice(1));
         }
-        parent.properties = parent.properties || [];
-        parent.properties.push(tag);
-      } else {
-        result.push(tag);
       }
-    }
-  });
 
-  comment[target] = result;
-
-  return comment;
-}
+      insertTag(memo, tag.name.split(PATH_SPLIT));
+      return memo;
+    },
+    { properties: [] }
+  ).properties;
 
 /**
  * Nests
@@ -70,8 +94,11 @@ function nestTag(
  * @param {Object} comment input comment
  * @return {Object} nested comment
  */
-function nest(comment /*: Comment*/) {
-  return nestTag(nestTag(comment, 'param', 'params'), 'property', 'properties');
-}
+var nest = (comment /*: Comment*/) =>
+  _.assign(comment, {
+    params: nestTag(comment.params),
+    properties: nestTag(comment.properties)
+  });
 
 module.exports = nest;
+module.exports.nestTag = nestTag;
diff --git a/lib/output/markdown_ast.js b/lib/output/markdown_ast.js
index 29e0537a3..2a7f10bec 100644
--- a/lib/output/markdown_ast.js
+++ b/lib/output/markdown_ast.js
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ function buildMarkdownAST(
     }
 
     function paramList(params /*: Array<CommentTag> */) {
+      if (params.length === 0) return [];
       return u(
         'list',
         { ordered: false },
diff --git a/test/fixture/_multi-file-input.json b/test/fixture/_multi-file-input.json
index 11a72d624..cf00595cf 100644
--- a/test/fixture/_multi-file-input.json
+++ b/test/fixture/_multi-file-input.json
@@ -167,7 +167,8 @@
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
           "name": "Number"
-        }
+        },
+        "properties": []
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/class.output.json b/test/fixture/class.output.json
index 37f1d9b70..d909a684e 100644
--- a/test/fixture/class.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/class.output.json
@@ -329,7 +329,8 @@
               "type": {
                 "type": "NameExpression",
                 "name": "boolean"
-              }
+              },
+              "properties": []
             }
           ],
           "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/es6-class.output.json b/test/fixture/es6-class.output.json
index 78ce308f3..45aaee754 100644
--- a/test/fixture/es6-class.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/es6-class.output.json
@@ -295,7 +295,8 @@
               "type": {
                 "type": "NameExpression",
                 "name": "string"
-              }
+              },
+              "properties": []
             }
           ],
           "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/es6.output-toc.md b/test/fixture/es6.output-toc.md
index 95a3c2c68..7e731557a 100644
--- a/test/fixture/es6.output-toc.md
+++ b/test/fixture/es6.output-toc.md
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ have any parameter descriptions.
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `$0` **any**  (optional, default `{}`)
-    -   `$0.phoneNumbers`   (optional, default `[]`)
-    -   `$0.emailAddresses`   (optional, default `[]`)
+-   `$0` **[Object](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object)?**  (optional, default `{}`)
+    -   `$0.phoneNumbers` **any?**  (optional, default `[]`)
+    -   `$0.emailAddresses` **any?**  (optional, default `[]`)
     -   `$0.params` **...any** 
 
 ## destructure
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Similar, but with an array
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `$0` **any** 
+-   `$0` **[Array](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array)** 
     -   `$0.a`  
     -   `$0.b`  
     -   `$0.c`  
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ This tests our support of optional parameters in ES6
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `foo`   (optional, default `'bar'`)
+-   `foo` **any?**  (optional, default `'bar'`)
 
 ## iAmProtected
 
diff --git a/test/fixture/es6.output.json b/test/fixture/es6.output.json
index 7ada1a342..a63054ec4 100644
--- a/test/fixture/es6.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/es6.output.json
@@ -86,20 +86,32 @@
       {
         "title": "param",
         "name": "$0",
+        "anonymous": true,
         "type": {
-          "type": "AllLiteral"
+          "type": "OptionalType",
+          "expression": {
+            "type": "NameExpression",
+            "name": "Object"
+          }
         },
-        "default": "{}",
         "properties": [
           {
             "title": "param",
             "name": "$0.phoneNumbers",
-            "default": "[]"
+            "lineNumber": 6,
+            "default": "[]",
+            "type": {
+              "type": "OptionalType"
+            }
           },
           {
             "title": "param",
             "name": "$0.emailAddresses",
-            "default": "[]"
+            "lineNumber": 6,
+            "default": "[]",
+            "type": {
+              "type": "OptionalType"
+            }
           },
           {
             "title": "param",
@@ -109,7 +121,8 @@
               "type": "RestType"
             }
           }
-        ]
+        ],
+        "default": "{}"
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
@@ -227,8 +240,10 @@
       {
         "title": "param",
         "name": "$0",
+        "anonymous": true,
         "type": {
-          "type": "AllLiteral"
+          "type": "NameExpression",
+          "name": "Array"
         },
         "properties": [
           {
@@ -448,7 +463,8 @@
               "name": "Number"
             }
           ]
-        }
+        },
+        "properties": []
       },
       {
         "title": "param",
@@ -1069,7 +1085,8 @@
               "type": {
                 "type": "NameExpression",
                 "name": "number"
-              }
+              },
+              "properties": []
             },
             {
               "title": "param",
@@ -1130,7 +1147,8 @@
               "type": {
                 "type": "NameExpression",
                 "name": "number"
-              }
+              },
+              "properties": []
             }
           ],
           "properties": [],
@@ -2299,7 +2317,11 @@
       {
         "title": "param",
         "name": "foo",
-        "default": "'bar'"
+        "lineNumber": 114,
+        "default": "'bar'",
+        "type": {
+          "type": "OptionalType"
+        }
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
@@ -2761,7 +2783,7 @@
       {
         "title": "param",
         "name": "compareFunction",
-        "default": "(a: T, b: T): boolean => a === b",
+        "lineNumber": 153,
         "type": {
           "type": "OptionalType",
           "expression": {
@@ -2789,7 +2811,8 @@
               "name": "boolean"
             }
           }
-        }
+        },
+        "default": "(a: T, b: T): boolean => a === b"
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/es6.output.md b/test/fixture/es6.output.md
index 985716788..84c9e963e 100644
--- a/test/fixture/es6.output.md
+++ b/test/fixture/es6.output.md
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ have any parameter descriptions.
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `$0` **any**  (optional, default `{}`)
-    -   `$0.phoneNumbers`   (optional, default `[]`)
-    -   `$0.emailAddresses`   (optional, default `[]`)
+-   `$0` **[Object](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object)?**  (optional, default `{}`)
+    -   `$0.phoneNumbers` **any?**  (optional, default `[]`)
+    -   `$0.emailAddresses` **any?**  (optional, default `[]`)
     -   `$0.params` **...any** 
 
 ## destructure
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Similar, but with an array
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `$0` **any** 
+-   `$0` **[Array](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array)** 
     -   `$0.a`  
     -   `$0.b`  
     -   `$0.c`  
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ This tests our support of optional parameters in ES6
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `foo`   (optional, default `'bar'`)
+-   `foo` **any?**  (optional, default `'bar'`)
 
 ## iAmProtected
 
diff --git a/test/fixture/es6.output.md.json b/test/fixture/es6.output.md.json
index 7826d97d5..74617b58a 100644
--- a/test/fixture/es6.output.md.json
+++ b/test/fixture/es6.output.md.json
@@ -84,9 +84,20 @@
                 {
                   "type": "strong",
                   "children": [
+                    {
+                      "href": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object",
+                      "url": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object",
+                      "type": "link",
+                      "children": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "text",
+                          "value": "Object"
+                        }
+                      ]
+                    },
                     {
                       "type": "text",
-                      "value": "any"
+                      "value": "?"
                     }
                   ]
                 },
@@ -131,6 +142,19 @@
                           "type": "text",
                           "value": " "
                         },
+                        {
+                          "type": "strong",
+                          "children": [
+                            {
+                              "type": "text",
+                              "value": "any"
+                            },
+                            {
+                              "type": "text",
+                              "value": "?"
+                            }
+                          ]
+                        },
                         {
                           "type": "text",
                           "value": " "
@@ -170,6 +194,19 @@
                           "type": "text",
                           "value": " "
                         },
+                        {
+                          "type": "strong",
+                          "children": [
+                            {
+                              "type": "text",
+                              "value": "any"
+                            },
+                            {
+                              "type": "text",
+                              "value": "?"
+                            }
+                          ]
+                        },
                         {
                           "type": "text",
                           "value": " "
@@ -312,8 +349,15 @@
                   "type": "strong",
                   "children": [
                     {
-                      "type": "text",
-                      "value": "any"
+                      "href": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array",
+                      "url": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array",
+                      "type": "link",
+                      "children": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "text",
+                          "value": "Array"
+                        }
+                      ]
                     }
                   ]
                 },
@@ -1773,6 +1817,19 @@
                   "type": "text",
                   "value": " "
                 },
+                {
+                  "type": "strong",
+                  "children": [
+                    {
+                      "type": "text",
+                      "value": "any"
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "type": "text",
+                      "value": "?"
+                    }
+                  ]
+                },
                 {
                   "type": "text",
                   "value": " "
diff --git a/test/fixture/inline-link.output.json b/test/fixture/inline-link.output.json
index 95ae461d5..060654315 100644
--- a/test/fixture/inline-link.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/inline-link.output.json
@@ -158,7 +158,8 @@
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
           "name": "number"
-        }
+        },
+        "properties": []
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
@@ -581,7 +582,8 @@
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
           "name": "number"
-        }
+        },
+        "properties": []
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/lends.output.json b/test/fixture/lends.output.json
index 4a231651f..3fc2c210f 100644
--- a/test/fixture/lends.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/lends.output.json
@@ -272,7 +272,8 @@
               "type": {
                 "type": "NameExpression",
                 "name": "string"
-              }
+              },
+              "properties": []
             }
           ],
           "properties": [],
@@ -523,7 +524,8 @@
               "type": {
                 "type": "NameExpression",
                 "name": "string"
-              }
+              },
+              "properties": []
             }
           ],
           "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/literal_types.output.json b/test/fixture/literal_types.output.json
index 858b92501..5300b7035 100644
--- a/test/fixture/literal_types.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/literal_types.output.json
@@ -96,7 +96,8 @@
               "value": 3.14
             }
           ]
-        }
+        },
+        "properties": []
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/memberedclass.output.json b/test/fixture/memberedclass.output.json
index a817352c9..6d125b531 100644
--- a/test/fixture/memberedclass.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/memberedclass.output.json
@@ -268,7 +268,8 @@
               "type": {
                 "type": "NameExpression",
                 "name": "boolean"
-              }
+              },
+              "properties": []
             }
           ],
           "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/merge-infered-type.output.json b/test/fixture/merge-infered-type.output.json
index 61f6b15c2..b424e90b9 100644
--- a/test/fixture/merge-infered-type.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/merge-infered-type.output.json
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@
             }
           }
         },
+        "properties": [],
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
           "name": "number"
diff --git a/test/fixture/multisignature.output.json b/test/fixture/multisignature.output.json
index ba7426e9a..4a22e59c0 100644
--- a/test/fixture/multisignature.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/multisignature.output.json
@@ -335,7 +335,8 @@
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
           "name": "Date"
-        }
+        },
+        "properties": []
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/nest_params.output.json b/test/fixture/nest_params.output.json
index 70a9cf890..a444a5767 100644
--- a/test/fixture/nest_params.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/nest_params.output.json
@@ -339,7 +339,8 @@
             "name": "string"
           }
         },
-        "default": "minion"
+        "default": "minion",
+        "properties": []
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/fixture/params.input.js b/test/fixture/params.input.js
index cea9becdf..c9522355c 100644
--- a/test/fixture/params.input.js
+++ b/test/fixture/params.input.js
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ function addThem(a, b, c, { d, e, f }) {
 
 /**
  * This method has partially inferred params
- * @param {String} $0.fishes number of kinds of fish
+ * @param {Object} options
+ * @param {String} options.fishes number of kinds of fish
  */
 function fishesAndFoxes({ fishes, foxes }) {
   return fishes + foxes;
@@ -99,8 +100,9 @@ function foo(address) {
  * This tests our support for iterator rest inside an
  * iterator destructure (RestElement)
  *
- * @param {any} $0.x head of iterator
- * @param {any[]} ...$0.xs body of iterator
+ * @param {Array} input
+ * @param {any} input.x head of iterator
+ * @param {any[]} ...input.xs body of iterator
  *
  * @returns {any[]} rotated such that the last element was the first
  */
diff --git a/test/fixture/params.output.json b/test/fixture/params.output.json
index 01241aec6..997f3c05e 100644
--- a/test/fixture/params.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/params.output.json
@@ -90,6 +90,11 @@
     "errors": [],
     "examples": [],
     "params": [
+      {
+        "title": "param",
+        "name": "a",
+        "lineNumber": 5
+      },
       {
         "title": "param",
         "name": "b",
@@ -149,12 +154,8 @@
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
           "name": "number"
-        }
-      },
-      {
-        "title": "param",
-        "name": "a",
-        "lineNumber": 5
+        },
+        "properties": []
       },
       {
         "title": "param",
@@ -164,8 +165,10 @@
       {
         "title": "param",
         "name": "$3",
+        "anonymous": true,
         "type": {
-          "type": "AllLiteral"
+          "type": "NameExpression",
+          "name": "Object"
         },
         "properties": [
           {
@@ -264,13 +267,23 @@
     "tags": [
       {
         "title": "param",
-        "description": "number of kinds of fish",
+        "description": null,
         "lineNumber": 2,
+        "type": {
+          "type": "NameExpression",
+          "name": "Object"
+        },
+        "name": "options"
+      },
+      {
+        "title": "param",
+        "description": "number of kinds of fish",
+        "lineNumber": 3,
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
           "name": "String"
         },
-        "name": "$0.fishes"
+        "name": "options.fishes"
       }
     ],
     "loc": {
@@ -279,18 +292,18 @@
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 12,
+        "line": 13,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 13,
+          "line": 14,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 15,
+          "line": 16,
           "column": 1
         }
       }
@@ -301,15 +314,17 @@
     "params": [
       {
         "title": "param",
-        "name": "$0",
+        "name": "options",
+        "lineNumber": 2,
         "type": {
-          "type": "AllLiteral"
+          "type": "NameExpression",
+          "name": "Object"
         },
         "properties": [
           {
             "title": "param",
-            "name": "$0.fishes",
-            "lineNumber": 2,
+            "name": "options.fishes",
+            "lineNumber": 3,
             "description": {
               "type": "root",
               "children": [
@@ -365,12 +380,13 @@
             "type": {
               "type": "NameExpression",
               "name": "String"
-            }
+            },
+            "properties": []
           },
           {
             "title": "param",
-            "name": "$0.foxes",
-            "lineNumber": 13
+            "name": "options.foxes",
+            "lineNumber": 14
           }
         ]
       }
@@ -464,22 +480,22 @@
     ],
     "loc": {
       "start": {
-        "line": 17,
+        "line": 18,
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 20,
+        "line": 21,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 21,
+          "line": 22,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 23,
+          "line": 24,
           "column": 1
         }
       }
@@ -497,9 +513,10 @@
           "expression": {
             "type": "NameExpression",
             "name": "number"
-          },
-          "default": "2"
-        }
+          }
+        },
+        "properties": [],
+        "default": "2"
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
@@ -580,22 +597,22 @@
     "tags": [],
     "loc": {
       "start": {
-        "line": 25,
+        "line": 26,
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 27,
+        "line": 28,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 28,
+          "line": 29,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 34,
+          "line": 35,
           "column": 1
         }
       }
@@ -682,22 +699,22 @@
           ],
           "loc": {
             "start": {
-              "line": 29,
+              "line": 30,
               "column": 2
             },
             "end": {
-              "line": 32,
+              "line": 33,
               "column": 5
             }
           },
           "context": {
             "loc": {
               "start": {
-                "line": 33,
+                "line": 34,
                 "column": 2
               },
               "end": {
-                "line": 33,
+                "line": 34,
                 "column": 14
               }
             }
@@ -765,7 +782,8 @@
               "type": {
                 "type": "NameExpression",
                 "name": "number"
-              }
+              },
+              "properties": []
             }
           ],
           "properties": [],
@@ -865,22 +883,22 @@
     "tags": [],
     "loc": {
       "start": {
-        "line": 36,
+        "line": 37,
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 38,
+        "line": 39,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 39,
+          "line": 40,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 46,
+          "line": 47,
           "column": 2
         }
       }
@@ -957,22 +975,22 @@
           "tags": [],
           "loc": {
             "start": {
-              "line": 40,
+              "line": 41,
               "column": 2
             },
             "end": {
-              "line": 42,
+              "line": 43,
               "column": 5
             }
           },
           "context": {
             "loc": {
               "start": {
-                "line": 43,
+                "line": 44,
                 "column": 2
               },
               "end": {
-                "line": 45,
+                "line": 46,
                 "column": 3
               }
             }
@@ -984,7 +1002,7 @@
             {
               "title": "param",
               "name": "x",
-              "lineNumber": 43
+              "lineNumber": 44
             }
           ],
           "properties": [],
@@ -1180,22 +1198,22 @@
     ],
     "loc": {
       "start": {
-        "line": 48,
+        "line": 49,
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 59,
+        "line": 60,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 60,
+          "line": 61,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 60,
+          "line": 61,
           "column": 22
         }
       }
@@ -1658,22 +1676,22 @@
     ],
     "loc": {
       "start": {
-        "line": 62,
+        "line": 63,
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 73,
+        "line": 74,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 74,
+          "line": 75,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 76,
+          "line": 77,
           "column": 1
         }
       }
@@ -2118,22 +2136,22 @@
     ],
     "loc": {
       "start": {
-        "line": 78,
+        "line": 79,
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 85,
+        "line": 86,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 86,
+          "line": 87,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 86,
+          "line": 87,
           "column": 37
         }
       }
@@ -2203,9 +2221,10 @@
           "expression": {
             "type": "NameExpression",
             "name": "number"
-          },
-          "default": "123"
-        }
+          }
+        },
+        "properties": [],
+        "default": "123"
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
@@ -2358,22 +2377,22 @@
     ],
     "loc": {
       "start": {
-        "line": 88,
+        "line": 89,
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 93,
+        "line": 94,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 94,
+          "line": 95,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 96,
+          "line": 97,
           "column": 1
         }
       }
@@ -2437,7 +2456,8 @@
               "offset": 22
             }
           }
-        }
+        },
+        "properties": []
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
@@ -2522,18 +2542,28 @@
     "tags": [
       {
         "title": "param",
-        "description": "head of iterator",
+        "description": null,
         "lineNumber": 4,
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
-          "name": "any"
+          "name": "Array"
         },
-        "name": "$0.x"
+        "name": "input"
       },
       {
         "title": "param",
-        "description": "...$0.xs body of iterator",
+        "description": "head of iterator",
         "lineNumber": 5,
+        "type": {
+          "type": "NameExpression",
+          "name": "any"
+        },
+        "name": "input.x"
+      },
+      {
+        "title": "param",
+        "description": "...input.xs body of iterator",
+        "lineNumber": 6,
         "type": {
           "type": "TypeApplication",
           "expression": {
@@ -2555,7 +2585,7 @@
       {
         "title": "returns",
         "description": "rotated such that the last element was the first",
-        "lineNumber": 7,
+        "lineNumber": 8,
         "type": {
           "type": "TypeApplication",
           "expression": {
@@ -2573,22 +2603,22 @@
     ],
     "loc": {
       "start": {
-        "line": 98,
+        "line": 99,
         "column": 0
       },
       "end": {
-        "line": 106,
+        "line": 108,
         "column": 3
       }
     },
     "context": {
       "loc": {
         "start": {
-          "line": 107,
+          "line": 109,
           "column": 0
         },
         "end": {
-          "line": 109,
+          "line": 111,
           "column": 1
         }
       }
@@ -2603,15 +2633,17 @@
     "params": [
       {
         "title": "param",
-        "name": "$0",
+        "name": "input",
+        "lineNumber": 4,
         "type": {
-          "type": "AllLiteral"
+          "type": "NameExpression",
+          "name": "Array"
         },
         "properties": [
           {
             "title": "param",
-            "name": "$0.x",
-            "lineNumber": 4,
+            "name": "input.x",
+            "lineNumber": 5,
             "description": {
               "type": "root",
               "children": [
@@ -2667,12 +2699,13 @@
             "type": {
               "type": "NameExpression",
               "name": "any"
-            }
+            },
+            "properties": []
           },
           {
             "title": "param",
-            "name": "$0.xs",
-            "lineNumber": 107,
+            "name": "input.xs",
+            "lineNumber": 109,
             "type": {
               "type": "RestType"
             }
diff --git a/test/fixture/params.output.md b/test/fixture/params.output.md
index c9df3621a..66737b81b 100644
--- a/test/fixture/params.output.md
+++ b/test/fixture/params.output.md
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ This function returns the number one.
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `b` **[number](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Number)** the second param
 -   `a`  
+-   `b` **[number](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Number)** the second param
 -   `c`  
--   `$3` **any** 
+-   `$3` **[Object](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object)** 
     -   `$3.d`  
     -   `$3.e`  
     -   `$3.f`  
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ This method has partially inferred params
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `$0` **any** 
-    -   `$0.fishes` **[String](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String)** number of kinds of fish
-    -   `$0.foxes`  
+-   `options` **[Object](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object)** 
+    -   `options.fishes` **[String](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String)** number of kinds of fish
+    -   `options.foxes`  
 
 ## withDefault
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ This method has a type in the description and a default in the code
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `x` **[number](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Number)?= 2** 
+-   `x` **[number](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Number)?**  (optional, default `2`)
 
 ## Foo
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ values specified in code.
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `x` **[number](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Number)?= 123** an argument
+-   `x` **[number](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Number)?** an argument (optional, default `123`)
 
 Returns **[number](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Number)** some
 
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ iterator destructure (RestElement)
 
 **Parameters**
 
--   `$0` **any** 
-    -   `$0.x` **any** head of iterator
-    -   `$0.xs` **...any** 
+-   `input` **[Array](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array)** 
+    -   `input.x` **any** head of iterator
+    -   `input.xs` **...any** 
 
 Returns **[Array](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array)&lt;any>** rotated such that the last element was the first
diff --git a/test/fixture/params.output.md.json b/test/fixture/params.output.md.json
index f8f56c216..e0512ec3b 100644
--- a/test/fixture/params.output.md.json
+++ b/test/fixture/params.output.md.json
@@ -63,6 +63,28 @@
       "ordered": false,
       "type": "list",
       "children": [
+        {
+          "type": "listItem",
+          "children": [
+            {
+              "type": "paragraph",
+              "children": [
+                {
+                  "type": "inlineCode",
+                  "value": "a"
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "text",
+                  "value": " "
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "text",
+                  "value": " "
+                }
+              ]
+            }
+          ]
+        },
         {
           "type": "listItem",
           "children": [
@@ -136,28 +158,6 @@
             }
           ]
         },
-        {
-          "type": "listItem",
-          "children": [
-            {
-              "type": "paragraph",
-              "children": [
-                {
-                  "type": "inlineCode",
-                  "value": "a"
-                },
-                {
-                  "type": "text",
-                  "value": " "
-                },
-                {
-                  "type": "text",
-                  "value": " "
-                }
-              ]
-            }
-          ]
-        },
         {
           "type": "listItem",
           "children": [
@@ -198,8 +198,15 @@
                   "type": "strong",
                   "children": [
                     {
-                      "type": "text",
-                      "value": "any"
+                      "href": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object",
+                      "url": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object",
+                      "type": "link",
+                      "children": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "text",
+                          "value": "Object"
+                        }
+                      ]
                     }
                   ]
                 },
@@ -351,7 +358,7 @@
               "children": [
                 {
                   "type": "inlineCode",
-                  "value": "$0"
+                  "value": "options"
                 },
                 {
                   "type": "text",
@@ -361,8 +368,15 @@
                   "type": "strong",
                   "children": [
                     {
-                      "type": "text",
-                      "value": "any"
+                      "href": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object",
+                      "url": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object",
+                      "type": "link",
+                      "children": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "text",
+                          "value": "Object"
+                        }
+                      ]
                     }
                   ]
                 },
@@ -384,7 +398,7 @@
                       "children": [
                         {
                           "type": "inlineCode",
-                          "value": "$0.fishes"
+                          "value": "options.fishes"
                         },
                         {
                           "type": "text",
@@ -457,7 +471,7 @@
                       "children": [
                         {
                           "type": "inlineCode",
-                          "value": "$0.foxes"
+                          "value": "options.foxes"
                         },
                         {
                           "type": "text",
@@ -566,16 +580,29 @@
                     {
                       "type": "text",
                       "value": "?"
-                    },
-                    {
-                      "type": "text",
-                      "value": "= 2"
                     }
                   ]
                 },
                 {
                   "type": "text",
                   "value": " "
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "paragraph",
+                  "children": [
+                    {
+                      "type": "text",
+                      "value": " (optional, default "
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "type": "inlineCode",
+                      "value": "2"
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "type": "text",
+                      "value": ")"
+                    }
+                  ]
                 }
               ]
             }
@@ -1954,10 +1981,6 @@
                     {
                       "type": "text",
                       "value": "?"
-                    },
-                    {
-                      "type": "text",
-                      "value": "= 123"
                     }
                   ]
                 },
@@ -1999,6 +2022,23 @@
                     },
                     "indent": []
                   }
+                },
+                {
+                  "type": "paragraph",
+                  "children": [
+                    {
+                      "type": "text",
+                      "value": " (optional, default "
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "type": "inlineCode",
+                      "value": "123"
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "type": "text",
+                      "value": ")"
+                    }
+                  ]
                 }
               ]
             }
@@ -2261,7 +2301,7 @@
               "children": [
                 {
                   "type": "inlineCode",
-                  "value": "$0"
+                  "value": "input"
                 },
                 {
                   "type": "text",
@@ -2271,8 +2311,15 @@
                   "type": "strong",
                   "children": [
                     {
-                      "type": "text",
-                      "value": "any"
+                      "href": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array",
+                      "url": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array",
+                      "type": "link",
+                      "children": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "text",
+                          "value": "Array"
+                        }
+                      ]
                     }
                   ]
                 },
@@ -2294,7 +2341,7 @@
                       "children": [
                         {
                           "type": "inlineCode",
-                          "value": "$0.x"
+                          "value": "input.x"
                         },
                         {
                           "type": "text",
@@ -2360,7 +2407,7 @@
                       "children": [
                         {
                           "type": "inlineCode",
-                          "value": "$0.xs"
+                          "value": "input.xs"
                         },
                         {
                           "type": "text",
diff --git a/test/fixture/simple-two.output.json b/test/fixture/simple-two.output.json
index a6d86ceea..f8ed76562 100644
--- a/test/fixture/simple-two.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/simple-two.output.json
@@ -167,7 +167,8 @@
         "type": {
           "type": "NameExpression",
           "name": "Number"
-        }
+        },
+        "properties": []
       }
     ],
     "properties": [],
diff --git a/test/lib/infer/params.js b/test/lib/infer/params.js
index 628f3b71a..cd56b5931 100644
--- a/test/lib/infer/params.js
+++ b/test/lib/infer/params.js
@@ -18,6 +18,101 @@ function evaluate(fn, file) {
   return inferParams(toComment(fn, file));
 }
 
+test('mergeTrees', function(t) {
+  t.deepEqual(
+    inferParams.mergeTrees(
+      [],
+      [
+        {
+          title: 'param',
+          description: 'First arg!',
+          name: 'a',
+          type: {
+            type: 'NameExpression',
+            name: 'string'
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    ),
+    [
+      {
+        title: 'param',
+        description: 'First arg!',
+        name: 'a',
+        type: {
+          type: 'NameExpression',
+          name: 'string'
+        }
+      }
+    ]
+  );
+
+  t.deepEqual(
+    inferParams.mergeTrees(
+      [
+        {
+          title: 'param',
+          name: '$0',
+          anonymous: true,
+          parameterIndex: 0,
+          type: {
+            type: 'NameExpression',
+            name: 'object'
+          },
+          properties: [
+            {
+              title: 'param',
+              name: '$0.a',
+              parameterIndex: 0,
+              type: {
+                type: 'NameExpression',
+                name: 'string'
+              },
+              properties: []
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      [
+        {
+          title: 'param',
+          description: 'First arg!',
+          name: 'a',
+          type: {
+            type: 'NameExpression',
+            name: 'object'
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    ),
+    [
+      {
+        title: 'param',
+        description: 'First arg!',
+        name: 'a',
+        type: {
+          type: 'NameExpression',
+          name: 'object'
+        },
+        properties: [
+          {
+            title: 'param',
+            name: 'a.a',
+            parameterIndex: 0,
+            type: {
+              type: 'NameExpression',
+              name: 'string'
+            },
+            properties: []
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ]
+  );
+
+  t.end();
+});
+
 test('inferParams', function(t) {
   t.deepEqual(
     evaluate(function() {
@@ -35,9 +130,87 @@ test('inferParams', function(t) {
     [{ lineNumber: 3, name: 'x', title: 'param' }]
   );
 
-  t.deepEqual(evaluate('/** Test */ var f = (x) => {}').params, [
-    { lineNumber: 1, name: 'x', title: 'param' }
-  ]);
+  t.deepEqual(
+    evaluate(function() {
+      /**
+       * Test
+       * @param {Object} a renamed destructuring param
+       */
+      var f = function({ x }) {};
+    }).params,
+    [
+      {
+        description: {
+          children: [
+            {
+              children: [
+                {
+                  position: {
+                    end: {
+                      column: 28,
+                      line: 1,
+                      offset: 27
+                    },
+                    indent: [],
+                    start: {
+                      column: 1,
+                      line: 1,
+                      offset: 0
+                    }
+                  },
+                  type: 'text',
+                  value: 'renamed destructuring param'
+                }
+              ],
+              position: {
+                end: {
+                  column: 28,
+                  line: 1,
+                  offset: 27
+                },
+                indent: [],
+                start: {
+                  column: 1,
+                  line: 1,
+                  offset: 0
+                }
+              },
+              type: 'paragraph'
+            }
+          ],
+          position: {
+            end: {
+              column: 28,
+              line: 1,
+              offset: 27
+            },
+            start: {
+              column: 1,
+              line: 1,
+              offset: 0
+            }
+          },
+          type: 'root'
+        },
+        lineNumber: 2,
+        name: 'a',
+        properties: [
+          {
+            lineNumber: 6,
+            name: 'a.x',
+            title: 'param'
+          }
+        ],
+        title: 'param',
+        type: {
+          name: 'Object',
+          type: 'NameExpression'
+        }
+      }
+    ]
+  );
+
+  t.deepEqual(evaluate('/** Test */ var f = (x) => {}').params, [{ lineNumber: 1, name: 'x', title: 'param' }]);
 
   t.deepEqual(
     evaluate(function() {
@@ -49,9 +222,79 @@ test('inferParams', function(t) {
     [{ lineNumber: 5, name: 'x', title: 'param' }]
   );
 
-  t.deepEqual(evaluate('/** Test */ export function f(x) {}').params, [
-    { lineNumber: 1, name: 'x', title: 'param' }
-  ]);
+  t.deepEqual(
+    evaluate(function() {
+      /** Test */
+      function f(x = 4) {}
+    }).params,
+    [
+      {
+        default: '4',
+        name: 'x',
+        title: 'param',
+        lineNumber: 3,
+        type: {
+          expression: null,
+          type: 'OptionalType'
+        }
+      }
+    ],
+    'default params'
+  );
+
+  t.deepEqual(
+    evaluate(function() {
+      /** Test
+       * @param {number} x
+      */
+      function f(x = 4) {}
+    }).params,
+    [
+      {
+        default: '4',
+        name: 'x',
+        title: 'param',
+        lineNumber: 1,
+        properties: [],
+        type: {
+          expression: {
+            type: 'NameExpression',
+            name: 'number'
+          },
+          type: 'OptionalType'
+        }
+      }
+    ],
+    'default params with type'
+  );
+
+  t.deepEqual(
+    evaluate(function() {
+      /** Test */
+      function f({ x: y }) {}
+    }).params,
+    [
+      {
+        anonymous: true,
+        name: '$0',
+        properties: [
+          {
+            lineNumber: 3,
+            name: '$0.x',
+            title: 'param'
+          }
+        ],
+        title: 'param',
+        type: {
+          name: 'Object',
+          type: 'NameExpression'
+        }
+      }
+    ],
+    'renaming'
+  );
+
+  t.deepEqual(evaluate('/** Test */ export function f(x) {}').params, [{ lineNumber: 1, name: 'x', title: 'param' }]);
 
   t.deepEqual(evaluate('/** Test */ export default function f(x) {}').params, [
     { lineNumber: 1, name: 'x', title: 'param' }
diff --git a/test/lib/nest.js b/test/lib/nest.js
index 8210ce45b..fb603cabd 100644
--- a/test/lib/nest.js
+++ b/test/lib/nest.js
@@ -1,101 +1,117 @@
 'use strict';
 
-var test = require('tap').test,
-  parse = require('../../lib/parsers/javascript'),
-  nest = require('../../lib/nest');
+var test = require('tap').test;
+var nestTag = require('../../lib/nest').nestTag;
 
-function toComment(fn, filename) {
-  return parse(
-    {
-      file: filename,
-      source: fn instanceof Function ? '(' + fn.toString() + ')' : fn
-    },
-    {}
-  ).map(nest);
-}
+// Print a tree of tags in a way that's easy to test.
+var printTree = indent =>
+  node =>
+    `${new Array(indent + 1).join(' ')}- ${node.name}${node.properties ? '\n' : ''}${(node.properties || [
+    ])
+      .map(printTree(indent + 1))
+      .join('\n')}`;
 
-test('nest params - no params', function(t) {
-  t.deepEqual(
-    toComment(function() {
-      /** @name foo */
-    })[0].params,
-    [],
-    'no params'
-  );
-  t.end();
-});
+var printNesting = params =>
+  printTree(0)({ properties: nestTag(params), name: 'root' });
 
-test('nest params - no nesting', function(t) {
-  var result = toComment(function() {
-    /** @param {Object} foo */
-  });
-  t.equal(result[0].params.length, 1);
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].name, 'foo');
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].properties, undefined);
+test('nest params - basic', function(t) {
+  var params = [
+    'foo',
+    'foo.bar',
+    'foo.bar.third',
+    'foo.third',
+    'foo.third[].baz'
+  ].map(name => ({ name }));
+  t.equal(
+    printNesting(params),
+    `- root
+ - foo
+  - foo.bar
+   - foo.bar.third
+  - foo.third
+   - foo.third[].baz`
+  );
   t.end();
 });
 
-test('nest params - basic', function(t) {
-  var result = toComment(function() {
-    /**
-     * @param {Object} foo
-     * @param {string} foo.bar
-     * @param {string} foo.baz
-     */
-  });
-  t.equal(result[0].params.length, 1);
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].name, 'foo');
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].properties.length, 2);
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].properties[0].name, 'foo.bar');
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].properties[1].name, 'foo.baz');
+test('nest params - multiple roots', function(t) {
+  var params = ['a', 'b', 'c'].map(name => ({ name }));
+  t.equal(
+    printNesting(params),
+    `- root
+ - a
+ - b
+ - c`
+  );
   t.end();
 });
 
-test('nest properties - basic', function(t) {
-  var result = toComment(function() {
-    /**
-     * @property {Object} foo
-     * @property {string} foo.bar
-     * @property {string} foo.baz
-     */
+test('nest params - missing parent', function(t) {
+  var params = ['foo', 'foo.bar.third'].map(name => ({ name }));
+  t.throws(() => {
+    nestTag(params);
   });
-  t.equal(result[0].properties.length, 1);
-  t.equal(result[0].properties[0].name, 'foo');
-  t.equal(result[0].properties[0].properties.length, 2);
-  t.equal(result[0].properties[0].properties[0].name, 'foo.bar');
-  t.equal(result[0].properties[0].properties[1].name, 'foo.baz');
   t.end();
 });
 
-test('nest params - array', function(t) {
-  var result = toComment(function() {
-    /**
-     * @param {Object[]} employees - The employees who are responsible for the project.
-     * @param {string} employees[].name - The name of an employee.
-     * @param {string} employees[].department - The employee's department.
-     */
-  });
-  t.equal(result[0].params.length, 1);
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].name, 'employees');
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].properties.length, 2);
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].properties[0].name, 'employees[].name');
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].properties[1].name, 'employees[].department');
+test('nest params - #658', function(t) {
+  var params = [
+    'state',
+    'payload',
+    'payload.input_meter_levels',
+    'payload.input_meter_levels[].peak',
+    'payload.input_meter_levels[].rms',
+    'payload.output_meter_levels',
+    'payload.output_meter_levels[].peak',
+    'payload.output_meter_levels[].rms'
+  ].map(name => ({ name }));
+  t.equal(
+    printNesting(params),
+    `- root
+ - state
+ - payload
+  - payload.input_meter_levels
+   - payload.input_meter_levels[].peak
+   - payload.input_meter_levels[].rms
+  - payload.output_meter_levels
+   - payload.output_meter_levels[].peak
+   - payload.output_meter_levels[].rms`
+  );
   t.end();
 });
 
-test('nest params - missing parent', function(t) {
-  var result = toComment(function() {
-    /** @param {string} foo.bar */
-  });
-  t.equal(result[0].params.length, 1);
-  t.deepEqual(
-    result[0].errors[0],
-    {
-      message: "@param foo.bar's parent foo not found",
-      commentLineNumber: 0
-    },
-    'correct error message'
+test('nest params - #554', function(t) {
+  var params = [
+    'x',
+    'yIn',
+    'options',
+    'options.sgOption',
+    'options.minMaxRatio',
+    'options.broadRatio',
+    'options.noiseLevel',
+    'options.maxCriteria',
+    'options.smoothY',
+    'options.realTopDetection',
+    'options.heightFactor',
+    'options.boundaries',
+    'options.derivativeThreshold'
+  ].map(name => ({ name }));
+  t.equal(
+    printNesting(params),
+    `- root
+ - x
+ - yIn
+ - options
+  - options.sgOption
+  - options.minMaxRatio
+  - options.broadRatio
+  - options.noiseLevel
+  - options.maxCriteria
+  - options.smoothY
+  - options.realTopDetection
+  - options.heightFactor
+  - options.boundaries
+  - options.derivativeThreshold`
   );
-  t.equal(result[0].params[0].name, 'foo.bar');
   t.end();
 });
diff --git a/test/lib/parse.js b/test/lib/parse.js
index 558979c2a..ebc18d566 100644
--- a/test/lib/parse.js
+++ b/test/lib/parse.js
@@ -115,7 +115,9 @@ test('parse - @description', function(t) {
        * @description This tagged description wins, and [is markdown](http://markdown.com).
        */
     })[0].description,
-    remark().parse('This tagged description wins, and [is markdown](http://markdown.com).'),
+    remark().parse(
+      'This tagged description wins, and [is markdown](http://markdown.com).'
+    ),
     'description'
   );