Pectis papposa is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

Blooming from July to October, the yellow flower heads are 1.5 cm (1⁄2 in) wide, with 7–9 rays around a small central disk; the bracts have 3–7 glands.

[4] Pectis papposa generally flowers following summer monsoon rains in the desert of southwestern United States as far east as Texas and northern Mexico.

In favorable years, it becomes an aspect dominant, coloring wide areas of the desert.

They also dip the fresh plant in salt water and eat it with mush or cornmeal as a condiment.