Dry mass of living plants varied from 138-788 g.m -2, the relation of living to dead plant mass 0.33-1.13, and leaf area index 0.68-3.27. The microclimatic characteristics of the stand are given in relation to the seasonal stand development and soil humidity. When soil water content was susfficient, the daily totals of transpiration from the stand, 3.7 and 4.3 mm, were comparable with those in temperate climatic zone, and actual transpiration of fully developed stand represented >90% of potential evapotranspiration. The transpiration rate per leaf area unit reached 0.4-0.5, by water shortage only 0.2 mg.cm -2.min -1.