PROS: Looks like red oak at first glance. Pretty tough stuff, it's used in baseball bats. It has a contrasting grain pattern and lots of pores, so it ought to take most stains fairly evenly. When clear finished it becomes very blond in color.

CONS: I have found when sanding older floors that this wood tended to develop cracks over time, this could have been caused by too fast a kiln drying process and poor milling, also watch for any boards that have any chips coming off them. Be sure to predrill any hand nailing, as this stuff is easy to split.