Diurnal fluctuations of stem radii and transpiration flows were recorded simultaneously at different crown levels of a subalpine Norway spruce. Daily oscillations of the stem radius at mid-crown level showed minimal amplitudes, and compared to those at the crown top a delay of more than 1 hour. Radius fluctuations over several days and the ratio F_base/F_mid-crown (daily xylem flow at 3.3 m/daily flow at 15.6 m) reflected depletion and replenishement of tree-internal water storage. On days of water storage depletion, the comparison of the daily xylem flow balances (F_base - F_mid-crown) with the changes of the stem volume suggests that water is withdrawn also from other organs than the stem. The relationships between diurnal amplitudes of radius variation and daily xylem flows of the corresponding crown levels showed a remarkable hysteresis at the stem base. Therefore, the time dynamics of daily amounts of tree transpiration are better represented by diurnal dendrographic amplitudes than by daily xylem flows at the stem base. The transpiration of lower crown layers was strongly influenced by crown water  interception.