The bark of a tree in Lucca:
A pommegranate tree
If not for the story, Epossumondus, I would have no idea what a persimmon was. Unfortunatey we had an audio version of the book, so when I finally did see persimmons for the first time here in Tuscany, I still didn't know what they were! The train route to Lucca passed many of these trees, void of leaves but hanging with heavy orange fruit.
