Melone, Popone

Originating from southern Asia and Equatorial Africa, the melon comes from the same family of plants as the pumpkin and courgette. The plant spreads its tentacles over a wide area, feeding the round or oval fruit with the moisture it needs to reach up to 1 kg (2¼ lb) in weight. There are many varieties of melon, some growing and maturing in summer and others in autumn, with the later fruit possibly being kept for the winter months. Among the latter are the Invernale Giallo and Verde varieties, oval melons shaped like rugby balls, with a very thick yellow or green skin and a white, not-too-sweet pulp. They are mostly grown in Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Puglia, Campania and Sicily, and can be kept for several months.