"The original work of the author is limited to field studies of Douglas Fir and its associates in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Vancouver Island and the Canadian Rockies, a study of burned over areas in Washington and a visit to the Forestry Experiment Station fo District One, at Stabler, Washington."

In this ongoing research into the fascinating life of Edith Purer, it has occurred to me that she began her professional and personal adult life by being interested in trees. It is reflected in her choice of a thesis topic, the Douglas Fir, for her Master of Science degree at the University of Chicago. After this period of education and research, she became interested in other plants and ecosystems, but they were treeless in nature. It may have been influenced by her new professor and advisor at USC, Howard DeForest, or by her own evolving interest in understanding nature. In any event, sand dunes, then vernal pools, and finally salt marshes became the focus of her attention. These three ecosystem types are by their very nature treeless. In her study of sand dunes, she ultimately did a Ph.D and wrote a book on the small wildflowers of sand dunes in San Diego, California. She wrote a most interesting article on the ecology of the delicate Beach Morning Glory. Later, she underook a study of vernal pools, where again she focused on small wildflowers. And finally, in her studies of salt-marshes, she became involved in the study of grasses and small salt-tolerant plants of estuaries and wetlands.

The shift in focus of study from the larger organism to the smaller organism and its ecosystem is a general pattern that has been recognized in several other scientists as well, not to mention "Science" in general. Usually the first studies of a young naturalist or scientist is on a large plant or large animal, but then later their focus of interest becomes on the smaller organisms of our Earth, such as wildflowers, tidepool creatures of marine invertebrates, or insects. The nuances and factors involved has to do with appreciation and awareness of the other ecosytems and organisms of the Earth. It happened to me also.

As important as it is to see that Edith Purer recognized the "splendid forests and remarkable trees..." it is also important to note that trees are not splendid, nor remarkable, when they are growing in southern California's sand dunes, vernal pools, and salt marshes. In this fact, I am certain that Edith Purer would have agreed. It is evident in her writings, such as in her book on Silver Strand Beach State Park and in her ecological monograph on the salt marshlands of San Diego, California.

Acknowledgement Note:
It is important for to me to recognize and acknowledge the assistance of Christa Modschiedler, Science Reference Librarian and Biomedical Bibliographer, at the University of Chicago. Her assistance was most helpful, not only in her ability to find Edith Purer's earliest publication, but also in finding two of Edith Purer's more obscure research articles. Thank you Christa Modschiedler.