What species?

[longcruise]

These are all very helpful comments and I thank all who threw out their thoughts on this.

Given the response to AQ on the scrap piece, it will not be getting AQ as part of the finish!!!!! 

The only other thing I ever saw turn that gray black color with AQ is veg tanned leather.

[Stophel]

Looks like very soft maple to me.   

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

That's maple.

[Acer Saccharum]

Maple.
The cross flecks, or rays, are an indication of maple.
Tom

[BrentD]

Maple.
The cross flecks, or rays, are an indication of maple.
Tom

I have them in cherry from my own trees.  looks just like that.  But a little pinker of course.

[flintriflesmith]

Virtually all nontropical hardwoods have rays. They work in the living tree to transfer nutrients and water between the bark, inter-bark and sap wood.

Wood identification uses the appearance of the rays etc. Rays in oak for example are huge compared to maple and became a decorative feature in 19th century oak furniture called "quatersaw oak."

Gary