Pentacalia ruficaulis is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss. The flowering plants (angiosperms), also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies (derived characteristics).