Harrisia adscendens is a species of cactus found in Brazil.
Harrisia adscendens grows as a shrub with rich, sparsely branched, initially upright, later overhanging or spreading shoots and forms a striking trunk. The shoots have a diameter of 2 to 5 centimeters and are 5 to 8 meters long. There are seven to ten low, rounded ribs that form elongated tubercles. The four to ten strong, yellowish to grayish thorns, thickened at their base, have a darker tip and are 1 to 3 centimeters long.
The flowers reach a length of 15 to 18 centimeters. Its pericarpel and flower tube are covered with scales and long hairs. The spherical, tearing, red fruits are slightly tuberous. They have a diameter of 5 to 6 centimeters.[1]
Harrisia adscendens is widespread in northeastern Brazil from the state of Bahia to the south of Ceará and Paraíba at altitudes of 50 to 700 meters.[2]
The first description as Cereus adscendens was made in 1908 by Max Gürke.[3] The specific epithet adscendens comes from Latin, means 'ascending' and refers to the growth habit of the species.[4] Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose placed the species in the genus Harrisia in 1920. Another nomenclature synonym is Eriocereus adscendens (Gürke) A.Berger (1929).